Everyone deserves the freedom to treat their own bodies however they wish and to present themselves in a way that feels right to them. As long as a person finds happiness in their own skin and makes daily choices that bring them joy, the opinions of others should hold no sway. Fran Kirby embodies this mindset when she talks about body image in women’s sport, but reaching this point has been anything but easy.
Kirby, a key figure in England’s triumphant Euro 2022 campaign and a regular starter for Brighton, has long used her platform to challenge the taboos that still linger in women’s athletics. She was among the first female footballers to speak openly about mental‑health struggles, admitting she has wrestled with depression, anxiety and burnout throughout her eleven‑year international career that yielded 77 caps and a haul of 14 domestic trophies with Chelsea. In addition to mental‑health advocacy, Kirby has candidly addressed the relentless social‑media abuse targeting her physique. Now 32 and one of Brighton’s senior leaders, she draws on those experiences to mentor younger teammates and to promote a body‑positive culture within the sport.
"I’m happy to step up and have those conversations because ultimately what we want is for everyone to feel confident and for everyone to feel safe in their environment," she told Sky Sports. "If you trust me or anyone else with that, then have the confidence to go and have those conversations." Kirby’s journey took a public turn after a serious knee injury forced her out of the 2023 World Cup.
When she returned to Chelsea training in October, a documentary released by the club captured a moment that sparked widespread discussion. An off‑camera voice asked, "How are you wearing a jacket?" to which Kirby replied, "Because I get called 'fat' all the time." Her honesty was met with support from Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, who praised Kirby for confronting body‑shaming. Hayes remarked, "The media need to be mindful of the insecurities that might be there and body shaming is a real thing. The players feel it and I was proud of Fran for saying that because as women we're judged enough to look a certain way." When pressed on whether the press should bear greater responsibility for the images they select and the narratives they craft, Kirby affirmed, "Absolutely, I think so.
And one thing that I've always tried to get across to people is, not everyone is going to look the same. I might do the same weights as someone else, but we are going to have completely different body types and that's OK." She went on to criticize click‑bait tactics that exploit a player’s appearance for engagement, emphasizing that athletes should focus on what works best for their performance rather than conforming to a singular aesthetic. Rugby star Ilona Maher, a social‑media influencer with 5.4 million Instagram followers, has also taken a stand against body‑image stigma. After an online comment made her self‑conscious about her shoulders, Maher posted a candid video explaining her insecurities and how she combats them by leaning on family, friends, workouts, and even dressing up or viewing empowering photos of herself.
Her openness continued when she responded to a troll who claimed she looked pregnant in a red‑carpet dress. Maher retorted, "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, because that's just how we are, OK?" She urged respect for the natural shapes of professional athletes, rejecting needless criticism.
England’s World Cup‑winning rugby player Ellie Kildunne has also spoken about her struggle with body dysmorphia. In her autobiography "Game Changer," she recounts how the COVID‑19 lockdown triggered disordered eating and unhealthy weight loss. Kildunne explained to BBC Sport that she would over‑exercise to compensate for food she couldn’t control, describing a paradox where she felt both too small and too large in the mirror. She reflected, "In the rugby world, I'm considered small, but in my world outside rugby, I was considered big – so I never really had that place where I felt comfortable, that I fit in." Tennis champion Aryna Sabalenka, currently world No.
1, has faced scrutiny for her prolific social‑media presence. Despite boasting four Grand Slam titles and 23 WTA singles crowns, she has been labeled as overly self‑promotional. Sabalenka clarified that sharing her life online helps counter the aggressive persona she displays on court.
"I show everything on social media. The main reason was that I look really aggressive on court, and I cannot look at myself, watch myself playing," she said ahead of the Wuhan Open. She admitted that the constant negativity online can be draining, noting, "For some reason I see more negative than positive about myself. People just being rude and mean to all of us and I feel like it's just not really worth reading and going through." These stories raise an important question: what message does this send to the next generation of female athletes?
Kirby, Maher, Kildunne, Sabalenka and countless others are determined to ensure that young girls do not let body‑image concerns derail their sporting ambitions. Kirby highlights how improved nutrition education is reshaping the conversation. In December, the Women’s Super League partnered with The Well HQ and Subway to launch guidance on female‑focused fueling, underscoring the role of diet in performance.
Andy Hudson, Head of Performance Support for the WSL, explained, "These are elite athletes who require elite performance environments to perform at their best, and make the women's game the best it can possibly be. We want to empower players and club practitioners to feel confident in understanding the role that nutrition plays, and the way they fuel themselves can enhance their performance. Additionally, we firmly believe that this can have an overall societal impact – whether it's a professional player or a young woman playing football recreationally, the importance of nutrition cannot be underestimated." Kirby reflects on how far the sport has come: "When I started, a lot of research was around the men’s game and what works for them and how we can implement that into the women’s game. Now we have nutritionists who work exclusively in women’s sport.
Growing up, many girls don’t know how many calories they should be eating, how many carbs, or how much protein they need. It becomes a problem because you have to fuel for performance. If you want to sustain a 90‑minute match, recover, train again, you must fuel correctly." She adds that some athletes still hesitate to eat enough because they fear looking heavy or not fitting the kit’s aesthetic. "As long as you’re performing, as long as you’re playing well, it shouldn’t matter how you look," Kirby asserts, noting the media’s growing interest in women’s football and the simultaneous pressure to conform to visual standards.
In summary, the collective voices of these athletes illustrate a broader cultural shift: body‑shaming is being called out, mental‑health conversations are becoming mainstream, and scientific support—particularly nutrition— is being tailored to women’s needs. By sharing their personal battles and triumphs, they are paving the way for a future where athletes can focus on performance, confidence and health rather than the scrutiny of appearance.