"Everyone should have the freedom to do what they want with their body and look the way they choose. As long as you're happy and fulfilled, why should anyone else's opinion matter?" These are the confident words of Fran Kirby, a key player in England's European Championship victory in 2022.
However, her journey to self-acceptance has not been easy. As one of the first female footballers to openly discuss mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and burnout, Kirby has also been vocal about the impact of social media abuse and body shaming on her career. Now, at 32 and a senior player at Brighton, she uses her experience to support younger players and promote body positivity.
Kirby's message is clear: "I'm happy to have these conversations because ultimately, we want everyone to feel confident and safe in their environment. If you feel like you can trust me or anyone else with that, then have the confidence to speak up." Her comments come at a time when the media's responsibility in promoting positive body image is under scrutiny. Kirby believes that the media have a significant role to play in being mindful of the images they choose and the potential impact on their audience. "Not everyone looks the same, and that's okay," she says.
"I might do the same training as someone else, but we'll have different body types. It's about understanding what works for you and making yourself the best version you can be for your sport." Ilona Maher, a rugby superstar and social media influencer, has also been at the forefront of tackling body image stigma in women's sports. With 5.4 million followers on Instagram, she has used her platform to share her vulnerabilities and promote self-acceptance. In a recent post, she discussed how she had been made to feel self-conscious about her shoulders, but instead of letting the negativity get to her, she chose to focus on her strengths and the things that make her happy.
"I love my shoulders, I love myself, and it's normal to have some negative thoughts sometimes," she says. "But I combat them by talking to my family and friends, working out, or looking at positive images of myself." Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1 tennis player, has also faced criticism for her social media presence, but she believes it's essential to show her true self and connect with her fans.
"I feel terrible about myself when I watch myself playing – I'm super aggressive on court," she says. "But I want to show people who Aryna is, and that's why I started sharing more about myself." However, even Sabalenka has grown tired of the online toxicity and believes that it's not worth engaging with the negative comments. The impact of body image concerns on young girls pursuing a career in sports is a significant concern.
Kirby is passionate about ensuring that these concerns do not hold them back and believes that education and support are key. The Women's Super League has developed groundbreaking 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. "We want to empower players and club practitioners to feel confident in understanding the role that nutrition plays and how it can enhance their performance." The message is clear: it's time to break free from body image pressures and focus on what really matters – performance, passion, and self-acceptance.
As Kirby says, "As long as you're performing, as long as you're playing well, it shouldn't matter how you look."