Breaking Free from Body Image Pressures

"Everyone has the right to make choices about their own body and appearance, and as long as they're happy, that's all that matters," says Fran Kirby, a prominent figure in women's sports, with confidence and authority. Her journey to self-acceptance, however, has been a challenging one. As a key player in England's European Championship victory in 2022, Kirby has been an outspoken advocate for discussing sensitive topics in women's sports, including mental health and the impact of social media on body image. With 77 international caps and 14 domestic titles under her belt, Kirby has also been open about her struggles with depression, anxiety, and burnout. Now, at 32, she uses her experience to support younger players and promote body positivity. "I'm happy to have these conversations because I want everyone to feel confident and safe in their environment," Kirby explains. Her comments come after she recently spoke out about being called 'fat' by someone off-camera during a documentary, prompting her former manager, Emma Hayes, to praise her for addressing the issue of body shaming. Kirby believes the media have a responsibility to be mindful of their editorial decisions, particularly when it comes to the images they choose to publish. "Not everyone looks the same, and that's okay," she says. "I might do the same workout as someone else, but we'll have different body types, and that's what makes us unique." Ilona Maher, a rugby superstar, has also been vocal about body image issues in women's sports. With 5.4 million followers on Instagram, she has used her platform to share her own vulnerabilities and call out online trolls. Earlier this year, she responded to a comment about looking pregnant in a dress, saying, "That's just a normal woman's body... I'm a professional athlete, and I always have this. Please stop commenting on the dumbest stuff." England's World Cup winner, Ellie Kildunne, has also spoken out about her struggles with body dysmorphia and disordered eating during her career. In her autobiography, 'Game Changer,' she describes how she would exercise excessively to compensate for her eating habits during the Covid lockdown. "I could see myself getting smaller, but I was still trying to be smaller on top of that," Kildunne says. "I wasn't in a team environment, and body dysmorphia is a funny thing – I would be small, but I would see myself as bigger in the mirror." Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has also faced criticism for her social media presence, but she uses the platform to show her true self and connect with fans. However, she recently expressed her frustration with the toxicity online, saying, "I see more negative than positive comments about myself... it's just not worth reading." The impact of these conversations on the next generation of sportswomen is crucial. Kirby hopes that young girls will not let body image concerns hold them back from pursuing their sporting dreams. The Women's Super League has developed guidance on female-focused fuelling for female athletes, highlighting the importance of nutrition in performance. "These are elite athletes who require elite performance environments to perform at their best," says Andy Hudson, Head of Performance Support for WSL. Kirby reflects on how far the game has come in terms of nutrition, saying, "When I started, a lot of research was around the men's game, and we would implement that into the women's game. Now, we have nutritionists who work specifically in women's sports, and it's so important because growing up, a lot of girls don't know how many calories they should be eating a day or how much protein they need."