A tampon applicator assembly comprising: an applicator barrel having a wall forming a tube with a center axis therethrough and with a hollow interior volume, the applicator barrel having: an insertion tip section having two to twelve petals; a main body section adjacent the insertion tip section, wherein the insertion tip section and the main body section meet where there is a substantial change in curvature along the length of the applicator barrel; a reverse taper section adjacent the main body section, wherein the reverse taper section tapers in a direction away from the insertion tip section; a concave finger grip section adjacent the reverse taper section and extending to a rearward edge of the applicator barrel opposite the insertion tip section, wherein the finger grip section has at least one gripping structure, wherein the insertion tip section, the main body section, the reverse taper section and the finger grip section are positioned around the central axis of the applicator barrel; and wherein the petals during the insertion of the applicator barrel into a vagina are supported by a forward end of a pledget to be inserted into the internal cavity of the applicator barrel; and a plunger that telescopically fits into the finger grip section, the plunger including a distal plunger end and a proximal plunger end opposite the distal plunger end, wherein the proximal plunger end is within the interior volume and the distal plunger end has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the finger grip section. an applicator barrel having a wall forming a tube with a center axis therethrough and with a hollow interior volume, the applicator barrel having: an insertion tip section having two to twelve petals; a main body section adjacent the insertion tip section, wherein the insertion tip section and the main body section meet where there is a substantial change in curvature along the length of the applicator barrel; a reverse taper section adjacent the main body section, wherein the reverse taper section tapers in a direction away from the insertion tip section; a concave finger grip section adjacent the reverse taper section and extending to a rearward edge of the applicator barrel opposite the insertion tip section, wherein the finger grip section has at least one gripping structure, wherein the insertion tip section, the main body section, the reverse taper section and the finger grip section are positioned around the central axis of the applicator barrel; and wherein the petals during the insertion of the applicator barrel into a vagina are supported by a forward end of a pledget to be inserted into the internal cavity of the applicator barrel; and an insertion tip section having two to twelve petals; a main body section adjacent the insertion tip section, wherein the insertion tip section and the main body section meet where there is a substantial change in curvature along the length of the applicator barrel; a reverse taper section adjacent the main body section, wherein the reverse taper section tapers in a direction away from the insertion tip section; a concave finger grip section adjacent the reverse taper section and extending to a rearward edge of the applicator barrel opposite the insertion tip section, wherein the finger grip section has at least one gripping structure, wherein the insertion tip section, the main body section, the reverse taper section and the finger grip section are positioned around the central axis of the applicator barrel; and wherein the petals during the insertion of the applicator barrel into a vagina are supported by a forward end of a pledget to be inserted into the internal cavity of the applicator barrel; and a plunger that telescopically fits into the finger grip section, the plunger including a distal plunger end and a proximal plunger end opposite the distal plunger end, wherein the proximal plunger end is within the interior volume and the distal plunger end has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the finger grip section.