Fearne Cotton has attacked cruel online trolls who said she looks “too skinny” after sharing a selfie online.
The 41-year-old TV presenter – who battled bulimia for 10 years in her 20s – was body-shamed after posting a picture of herself in a black mini dress to Instagram on Friday, showing off her long legs.
Fearne hit back at critics after raising concern in the mirror selfie, with some commenting that she appeared underweight.
Fighting back: Fearne Cotton has attacked cruel online trolls who criticized her looks after she shared a picture of herself in a mini dress online
She replied: “Sometimes I feel like I can’t be asked to respond to the insane amounts of noise here, but when it comes to judging bodies I feel like something needs to be said.
“Online disputes or discussions about what bodies look like (see my last post) are not helpful.
“When we judge other people’s bodies or make accusations, we are pushing a narrative that women have to look a certain way in order to be accepted. That kind of attention is never thrown at men.
“No matter how tall I am, pregnant or otherwise, I have knobby knees and skinny ankles.
Undeterred: The 41-year-old TV presenter – who battled bulimia for 10 years in her 20s – was body shamed after posting a picture to Instagram on Friday
“I’ve always kept my weight around my waist. It’s different for everyone. But I’m also not sure why I’m defending myself here.
“Having suffered from bulimia in my 20’s, I am particularly sensitive to these types of discussions as I have worked hard to heal, recover and get to a place where I love food, eat for energy and Pleasure, exercise to increase my strength now I’m in my 40’s and so thankful for my health.
“I’m in no way upset or personally offended as I’ve been through much worse, but I will fight this fight for ALL women for the rest of my life.
Speaking of which, Fearne previously said her 10-year battle with bulimia was sparked by self-loathing after the presenter pretended she was “too big”.
“I am much more than my body, like ALL women. peace and love.’
Fearne previously said her 10-year battle with bulimia was sparked by self-loathing and a negative body image after the presenter fooled herself into thinking she was “too big”.
The popular TV and radio personality struggled with bulimia in her twenties before managing to overcome the eating disorder after marrying musician Jesse Wood and then having their children.
Let’s talk: Speaking about her battle with the disease in November, Fearne admitted she was prompted to address the issue after reading online debates about the return of ‘heroin chic’.
Speaking about her battle with the disease in November, Fearne admitted she was pushed to address the issue after reading online debates about the return of ‘heroin chic’ – a term coined in the early ’90s became popular and is commonly used to describe models with pale skin and emaciated features.
She wrote on Instagram at the time: “Sometimes I think it’s too loud to have many different voices on an issue, but having faced many body image issues over the years, I feel compelled to even have a healthy one to continue debate.
“I was bulimic for 10 years, partly because of self-loathing and partly because of a control mechanism.
Old times: The popular TV and radio personality struggled with bulimia in her 20s (pictured on children’s show Finger Tips in 2002)
“I still feel uncomfortable bringing it up, only spurred on by the knowledge that so many may be dealing with it now and feeling like they’ll never break the cycle.
“My message is… if I can, you can. It’s absolutely possible. Be gentle with yourself and know that you can heal.’
The presenter was a household name in her twenties where she hosted mainstream shows like Top Of The Pops and The Xtra Factor.
But behind the scenes, she admits to being weakened by her low self-esteem and often used food as a coping mechanism.
She added, “I bring this up because part of my self-hatred comes from feeling ‘wrong’ physically.
“Too wide, too square, too muddy in areas due to the imagery that was ubiquitous growing up.
“I unknowingly applied everything I recorded to my own self-worth. I can still be triggered this way today, but healed a lot to feel more robust.
“The female body has long been debated and obsessed with, and we must remember never to shame a physical body.
“There will, of course, be very slim women out there who don’t also want the abuse or presumption around their bodies.
“There are women in the disability community who don’t want to explain themselves or be pitied.
“There are women out there who feel shame and hate for their physical body, who need support and love. All bodies are damn wonderful and beautiful.”
If you’re struggling with bulimia nervosa or any other eating disorder, call Beat Eating Disorders free on 0808 801 0677 or email [email protected].
WHAT IS BULIMIA NERVOSA?
According to the NHS, bulimia is “an eating disorder and a mental health condition”.
“People with bulimia go through phases where they eat a lot in a very short amount of time and then get sick,” the website adds.
The eating disorder is most common in young women, and those affected often have a distorted image of their figure
Symptoms include:
- binge eating
- Wash
- fear of gaining weight
- Critical of weight and body shape
- Extreme mood swings