We think philanthropist, television presenter and author Katie Piper is one amazing woman. When she's not devoting her time to her beautiful family (she is a mum to two children), she is tirelessly supporting causes that mean the most to her, such as the Pampers, #ThankYouMidwife initiative.
And this week, we're calling out our admiration for Piper for being unafraid to call out those who think it's okay to expose new mums to misogynistic waves of horrid comments about their bodies and appearances after having a baby.
The mum-of-two was arriving at the BBC studios in London when she was photographed by paparazzi. Some then took to social media to comment on her outfit (which we happen to think is gorgeous by the way), calling it "unflattering" and even commenting on her appearance.
Piper refused to stay silent on the matter and posted her response on Instagram and the same pictures:
“Yes I am aware these are not the most flattering pictures of me. I didn’t realise my top would go see-through in the camera flash and my posture isn’t great either," she wrote.
“My baby is now 12 weeks old and I’m probably a stone and half heavier than normal but that is also normal. I’m ignoring the troll comments, eating healthy, exercising when I can fit it in and enjoying my baby.”
She finished on an empowering note, saying she utterly refused to dress for other people's approval. “For those people that sent me messages saying I shouldn’t have worn this outfit – I will wear what I want and not what pleases others.”
She also told the Mail Online that she’s in no hurry to “lose my baby bump, which is still there!”
“The life experience of our appearance is not everything that defines us so I don’t feel under the same pressure as I think some people in the public eye do to be thin,” she said. I’m happy to wear clothes that show my bump that’s still there, it doesn’t bother me. I know this is a period in my life and if I want to do something in the long run about it I can.”
This positive stance on appearance is something she's keen to pass on to her children, daughters three-year-old daughter Belle and Penelope, who is almost three months old.
Pipe, who in 2009, established her charity, the Katie Piper Foundation, aimed at raising awareness of the plight of victims of burns and other disfigurement injuries after she horrifically had sulphate acid thrown at her when she was in her early twenties, previously told MummyPages that she simply wants to instil her children with confidence and happiness so that they find purpose in their lives.
"I want them to be confident and have a strong sense of self-esteem. I think in the western world there is an emphasis on striving to obtain material goods and wealth. I want my children to learn to find purpose. If we don't find purpose and happiness, we will remain unfulfilled. I just want them to be happy and to spread that happiness to others."
