The Unseen Pressure: How Body Image Impacts Women in Sports

"Every individual should have the freedom to make choices about their body and appearance, as long as it brings them happiness. What others think shouldn't matter," says Fran Kirby with confidence and conviction when discussing body image in women's sports. However, her journey to this point of self-assurance has been challenging. As a key player in England's European Championship victory in 2022, Kirby has been an outspoken advocate for addressing sensitive topics in women's sports, including mental health and social media abuse. With 77 international caps and 14 domestic titles under her belt, Kirby now uses her experience to support younger players and promote body positivity. "I'm more than happy to initiate these conversations because our ultimate goal is for everyone to feel confident and safe in their environment," Kirby expressed in an interview with Sky Sports. After missing the 2023 World Cup due to a severe knee injury, Kirby's candid comments in a documentary for Chelsea's official channels sparked discussions. In the footage, someone off-camera asks Kirby, "How are you wearing a jacket?" to which she responds, "Because I'm constantly called 'fat.'" Chelsea manager Emma Hayes praised Kirby for speaking out, stating, "The media needs to be mindful of the insecurities that may exist, and body shaming is a real issue. As women, we're already judged enough for our appearance." When asked if the media bears a greater responsibility for being considerate of editorial decisions, such as the images used in articles, Kirby stated, "Absolutely. One thing I've always tried to convey is that not everyone will have the same physique. I might do the same workout as someone else, but we'll have entirely different body types, and that's okay." Rugby superstar Ilona Maher has also made significant strides in tackling body image stigma in women's sports. With 5.4 million followers on Instagram, Maher shared her vulnerabilities about body insecurities, saying, "I recently had an interaction that made me self-conscious about my shoulders. Afterward, I looked in the mirror and worried they were too big. I flexed and checked them, wondering if anyone would find them attractive. I love my shoulders, and I love myself, but it's normal to have negative thoughts sometimes. To combat them, I talk to my family and friends, work out, or look at pictures of myself in bikinis." Earlier this year, Maher addressed an online troll who claimed she looked pregnant in a dress she wore to a red carpet event. "A guy commented on a picture of me, saying I looked pregnant in that dress," Maher wrote in an Instagram reel. "To him, I say that's just a normal woman's body. You probably haven't seen a woman naked in a long time, if ever, and I hope you never get the privilege to again. That's just how we are, okay? That's what we're working with. As a professional athlete, I always have this, so please stop commenting on the dumbest stuff." England's World Cup winner Ellie Kildunne has also spoken openly about her struggles with body dysmorphia during her career. In her autobiography 'Game Changer,' Kildunne explains how the Covid lockdown led to disordered eating and unhealthy weight loss. "I could see myself getting smaller, but I was still trying to lose more weight," Kildunne said in an interview with BBC Sport. "I wasn't in a team environment with physios or my teammates, and body dysmorphia is a strange thing. I would be small, but I would see myself as bigger in the mirror. It seems stupid now, but I had a terrible relationship with food." Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has faced criticism for spending too much time on social media, but with four Grand Slam titles and 23 WTA Tour singles titles, she's clearly focused on her game. Sabalenka uses social media to show her true self, but she's also opened up about her vulnerabilities, wanting to move away from the 'aggressive' player persona people see on court. "I show everything on social media, and the main reason is that I look really aggressive on court, and I feel terrible about myself because I'm super aggressive," Sabalenka said. "I wanted to be connected with people, to feel their support in the stadiums. I wanted to experience that support, so I felt like I needed to share myself, to show people who Aryna is, and that's why I started sharing." However, Sabalenka recently expressed her frustration with the toxicity on social media. "For some reason, I see more negative than positive comments about myself. People are just being rude and mean to all of us, and I feel like it's not worth reading or going through," she said. The message this sends to the next generation of sportswomen is concerning. Kirby hopes that young girls won't let body image concerns affect their pursuit of sporting success. She believes that conversations around nutrition and the increased presence of nutritionists in women's football have helped educate players about fueling their bodies. Last December, the Women's Super League, in collaboration with The Well HQ and supported by Subway, developed groundbreaking guidance highlighting the impact of female-focused fueling for female athletes. Andy Hudson, Head of Performance Support for WSL, stated, "We want to empower players and club practitioners to feel confident in understanding the role that nutrition plays and how they fuel themselves can enhance their performance. We firmly believe that this can have a broader societal impact, whether it's a professional player or a young woman playing football recreationally. The importance of nutrition cannot be underestimated." On average, a man needs 2,500 calories per day, while a woman needs 2,000 calories, although this can vary based on age, weight, height, and exercise level. Kirby reflects on how far the game has come in terms of nutrition. "When I started, a lot of research was focused on the men's game, and we tried to apply that to the women's game. Now, we have nutritionists who work specifically in women's sports. I think it's crucial because many young girls don't know how many calories they should be eating or how much protein and carbohydrates they need. It becomes a problem because you need to fuel your body for performance. If you want to sustain a 90-minute game and recover, you need to fuel yourself correctly. Sometimes, young girls, and even experienced players, might think, 'I don't want to eat that much because I don't want to feel heavy tomorrow. I don't want to look like this in the kit.' Obviously, with the growth of the women's game and the media coverage, it's amazing, but now it's about letting go of what people think about you. As long as you're performing and playing well, it shouldn't matter how you look."