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The 22-year-old gymnast slammed this type of judgment in an empowering Instagram message on Wednesday.
“Let’s talk about competition,” she wrote in an open letter. “Specifically, the competition I didn’t sign up for and feel like has become almost a daily challenge for me. And I do not think I’m the only one.”
The gold medal winner then explained how in gymnastics—as well as in several other professions—”there is a growing competition that has nothing to do with performance itself.”
“I’m talking about beauty,” she continued. “I don’t know why but others feel as though they can define your own beauty based on their standards. I’ve learned to put on a strong front and let most of it slide. But I’d be lying if I told you that what people say about my arms, my legs, my body…of how I look like in a dress, leotard, bathing suit or even in casual pants hasn’t gotten me down at times.”
“Today, I say I am done competing vs. beauty standards and the toxic culture of trolling when others feel as though their expectations are not met…because nobody should tell you or I what beauty should or should not look like,” she concluded. “Beauty is #NoCompetition.”
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