Jameela Jamil perfectly sums up the body pressures put on women in viral tweet

'We need to respect women more than this'

Olivia Petter
Tuesday 03 July 2018 18:42 BST
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(Rex Features)

Jameela Jamil has been praised on social media for perfectly illustrating the intense scrutiny women face when it comes to their bodies - in a single tweet which has since gone viral.

Posting a series of snaps of an article in an unknown print publication, the TV presenter and actor used the images as an example of how female celebrities are unfairly judged by their “beach bodies” in the media.

The photographs, presumably taken by paparazzi, feature Mariah Carey, Rebel Wilson, Queen Latifah and Lea Michele, all of whom are harshly criticised by the publication for various so-called “flaws”.

The feature appears to have been titled “best and worst beach bodies”.

In addition to vilifying Carey for being “too big” for her wetsuit, the publication refers to Queen Latifah as a “beached whale”, jokes that Lea Michele's “biggest rolls” are the ones on her stomach and cruelly taunts Wilson for making a “big splash” in the sea due to her size.

Judging from the women’s ages as they are referenced in the publication, it would seem that the article is two to three years old.

“We need to respect women more than this,” Jamil wrote on Twitter alongside the images, demanding that the author come forward and reveal themselves.

“This is crazy,” she added, describing the article as “trash”.

The tweet has been liked more than 15,000 times and retweeted by more than 3,200 users, with many lauding the British presenter for articulating everything wrong with the way women are conditioned to feel about their bodies.

“Everything that’s wrong with the world in one neat article,” wrote one person, “ps to all the women who aren’t ‘perfect’ - men don’t care. They’ve never cared. You look awesome.

“This is just about about some nutcase selling magazines and making other women feel bad about themselves.”

Another added: “The most disgusting thing is next week the same magazine will probably have an article criticising some ladies for being too skinny.”

Jamil’s tweet has also garnered attention and support from some prolific figures, including Kathy Griffin and Caitlin Moran, who praised the actor for “fighting the good fight”.

Though the publication has not been named, Jamil tells The Independent that the images were sent to her via her body positivity Instagram account I Weigh, which aims to inspire women to have a loving relationship with their bodies in addition to finding value in their talents and skills rather than their appearances.

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