Despite living in a world that is supposed to have moved on from commenting on the bodies of others, this week has proved that this is far from the case.
It seems we're all as obsessed as ever with critiquing the appearance of women in the public eye. Take Ariana Grande, who this week announced she will be "taking a step back from visibility" after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour, with the statement noting that her public-facing work and appearances have "led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny."
While the Petal singer is spoken about for looking extremely thin, at the other end of the spectrum, Cristiano Ronaldo's fiancée, Georgina Rodríguez, has been called "fat" by trolls on the internet – and the model hasn't been afraid to be honest about how this has impacted her.
© InstagramIn a lengthy statement on Instagram, she wrote: "Lately, I've seen all kinds of comments about some photos of me on a boat. Some people comment on my body, while others defend me. I was talking about it with Cris and said: 'It worries me that people are calling me fat now, because I make a living from my image'."
She added that her footballer partner was full of wise words, telling her: "You don't live off your image. You live off who you are. A perfect woman. Beautiful, with a killer body, a mother, a good person, successful, and someone who lives life with love. What more could you want? It's only natural that people envy you."
Georgina continued her message with a note of empowerment for other women, writing: "A person's worth can never depend on their physical appearance or the opinions of strangers.
"The funny thing is, this happens every summer. Every year, my body becomes a headline. I ask myself, 'Where is the standard? Who decides what the 'right' body is? Do we really still think happiness comes in a specific size?'"
On her body, the model continued: "I love my curves. I love the freedom of living in the body I choose. In the body that sustains me - that has allowed me to embrace others, create life, fall down, and get back up again. A body that deserves respect, love, and gratitude in every version of itself."
© InstagramShe concluded: "For me, true success has never been about fitting into a standard that no one knows who invented. True success is living in peace. Surrounding myself with the people I love. Enjoying time with my family and friends. Taking care of my health. Laughing. Learning. Living. And it is."
Georgina's positive stance
The fact that Georgina defended herself is important, according to positive psychology coach Elle Mace, who says it's helpful for those of us who consume celebrity culture to see stars talk openly about how their bodies are perceived and talked about.
"When public figures openly discuss their body image, especially the struggles, it can break societal norms and reduce the stigma surrounding body issues," she says.
© Instagram"This transparency often encourages others to embrace their own bodies, fostering a more positive and inclusive attitude towards diverse body types and that it’s not better to be one size or another; everyone is different and that is what we need to focus on and celebrate."
Elle continues that Georgina's comments are positive for her almost 80 million followers. "Public figures are naturally role models, especially for the younger audience. Younger people are often seeking approval and attention; therefore, following and admiring a celebrity or influencer makes them feel safe and that if they accept and love their bodies, then it’s ok for me to as well."
Georgina noted acceptance and appreciation for her changing body, too, writing: "My body will change, just as every woman's body does. And I hope it continues to do so for many years, because that will mean I am still alive."
This acceptance is important too, as Elle says: "Accepting the natural changes that come with aging involves embracing a broader definition of beauty and focusing on the value of experiences, wisdom, and personal growth. Cultivating self-compassion and gratitude for what your body has allowed you to do can help shift the focus away from past appearances to present well-being."
Public commentary
This makes me think of comments made by body activist Jameela Jamil earlier this week.
Speaking about Ariana Grande's frailty and the singer's team and fandom's reluctance to acknowledge it, Jameela said that could be as damaging to fans as drawing attention to her body.
© Getty Images"This poor woman is possibly dying right in front of us," Jamil previously wrote. "If we comment on her body, we could harm her mental health, which would be awful, and nobody wants that.
"If we don't comment on her body, we run the risk of normalising that image to hundreds of millions of teenage girls, kids and even impressionable adults, consuming her content. Content which is pointedly accentuating her bones and tiny frame with belts and corsets."
I'm inclined to agree with Jameela. While commenting on the appearance of another – be they famous or not – can be incredibly damaging, as Georgina has emphasised, not speaking out can be problematic too.
In acknowledging the commentary around her body, yet stating that she is happy and healthy, Georgina has made an effort to halt the discourse around her looks, and for that we can only feel positively.
