Fran Kirby believes that everyone should have the freedom to shape their own bodies and present themselves however they choose, as long as they feel happy and confident. "If you’re content with yourself and make yourself feel good every day, why should anyone else’s opinion matter?" she says. Kirby speaks with authority on the topic of body image in women’s sport, but reaching this point has been a long, challenging journey. Kirby was a central figure in England’s victorious Euro 2022 campaign, starting every match on home soil.
The Brighton midfielder has long used her platform to break down taboos that still linger in women’s sport. She was among the first female footballers to openly discuss mental‑health struggles, admitting she has battled depression, anxiety and burnout. Over an eleven‑year international career she earned 77 caps and, at club level with Chelsea, collected 14 domestic trophies.
Throughout those years she also endured relentless social‑media abuse targeting her physique. Now 32 and a senior player at Brighton, Kirby channels those experiences into mentorship, encouraging younger teammates to adopt a body‑positive mindset. "I’m happy to step up and have those conversations because ultimately we want everyone to feel confident and safe in their environment," she told Sky Sports.
"If you trust me, or anyone else, have the confidence to start those talks." Kirby missed the 2023 World Cup after a serious knee injury. When she returned to Chelsea training in October, a documentary for the club’s official channels captured a candid moment that sparked headlines.
An off‑camera voice asked, "How are you wearing a jacket?" to which Kirby replied, "Because I get called ‘fat’ all the time." Chelsea manager Emma Hayes praised her honesty, stating, "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 asked if the media should bear greater responsibility for the images they publish, Kirby answered unequivocally: "Absolutely, I think so. Not everyone is going to look the same.
I might lift the same weight as someone else, but we will have completely different body types and that’s OK." She added that many outlets choose pictures simply to generate clicks, regardless of whether the image highlights a player’s body shape, stance or expression. "It’s always been click‑bait. We’ll always have that, but as individuals we need to understand what works for us and what helps us perform at our best," she said. Rugby star Ilona Maher has also taken a stand against body‑image stigma.
With 5.4 million Instagram followers, she openly shares her insecurities. In March she wrote about an episode that made her self‑conscious about her shoulders, admitting she sometimes wonders if they are “too big” or attractive. She combats those thoughts by talking to family, working out, dressing up and even looking at photos of herself in bikinis.
Maher, who helped the United States win its first Olympic rugby medal in a century at Paris 2024, recently rebuked an online troll who claimed she looked pregnant in a dress. "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 again, because that’s just how we are," she wrote, urging people to stop the “dumbest stuff.” England World Cup winner Ellie Kildunne has also spoken candidly about body dysmorphia. In her autobiography *Game Changer*, she describes how lockdown triggered disordered eating and unhealthy weight loss.
She told BBC Sport that she would over‑exercise to compensate for food she couldn’t control, saying, "I could see myself getting a little bit smaller, but then was still trying to chase being smaller on top of that." Kildunne explained the paradox of seeing herself as larger in the mirror while others considered her “small” on the rugby field. The mismatch left her never feeling truly comfortable in her own skin.
Tennis champion Aryna Sabalenka, a four‑time Grand Slam winner with 23 WTA singles titles, faces a different kind of scrutiny. Critics accuse her of spending too much time on social media, yet she uses those platforms to reveal a softer side. "I look aggressive on court and I can’t watch myself playing; I feel terrible about that," she said ahead of the Wuhan Open.
"I share everything so people can see who Aryna really is and feel connected." At the Miami Open, Sabalenka admitted the online environment had become toxic. "I see more negative than positive about myself.
People are just being rude and mean, and it’s not worth reading," she confessed. These stories raise an important question: what message does this send to the next generation of sportswomen? Kirby, Maher, Kildunne and Sabalenka all stress that young athletes should not let body‑image concerns derail their ambitions. Kirby notes that nutrition education has improved dramatically.
The Women’s Super League, in partnership with The Well HQ and backed by Subway, released pioneering guidance on female‑focused fueling. Andy Hudson, Head of Performance Support for the WSL, explained that elite athletes need elite environments, and that proper nutrition can boost performance while also influencing society at large. He emphasized that whether you are a professional player or a recreational enthusiast, understanding nutrition is essential. Typical daily caloric needs are about 2,500 kcal for an average man and 2,000 kcal for an average woman, though individual requirements vary with age, weight, height and activity level.
Kirby reflected on how far the sport has come: "When I started, most research was about the men’s game. Now we have nutritionists who work exclusively in women’s sport. Young girls often don’t know how many calories, carbs or grams of protein they need." She explained that fueling correctly is vital for a 90‑minute match, recovery, and subsequent training. Yet many players, especially younger ones, fear eating enough because they don’t want to feel “heavy” or look a certain way in their kit.
Kirby argued that as the women’s game gains media exposure, athletes must also let go of external judgments. "As long as you’re performing, as long as you’re playing well, it shouldn’t matter how you look," she concluded. By sharing their personal battles and advocating for better support systems, these athletes are reshaping the narrative around body image in sport, proving that confidence, health and performance can coexist without compromise.