Amanda Owen, the beloved star of Channel 5's Our Yorkshire Farm, has issued a defiant response to critics who targeted her over a photograph showing the shepherdess in a bikini alongside one of her horses.
The 49-year-old mother-of-nine found herself at the centre of unexpected controversy after sharing the striking image on her social media platforms. The photo, which captures Owen in a black bikini standing beside a chestnut horse against the dramatic backdrop of her Ravenseat Farm in the Yorkshire Dales, quickly attracted both admiration and criticism.
Clapping Back at the Critics
Rather than ignoring the negative comments, Owen addressed them head-on with her characteristic Yorkshire directness. "For those of you that were offended by my last post..." she began in her follow-up statement, making it clear she wouldn't be silenced by online trolls.
The shepherdess, who has built a loyal following through her no-nonsense approach to farming life, pointed out the irony of critics focusing on her appearance rather than the equine subject of the photograph. "I was simply cooling off in the river with the horse," she explained, highlighting the practical reality of farm life during warm weather.
More Than Just a Photo
Owen's response touched on broader issues of body image and the unrealistic expectations placed on women in the public eye. Her message resonated with thousands of supporters who flooded her social media with messages of encouragement and praise for her authentic representation of rural life.
"The fact that people feel entitled to comment on a woman's body in 2024 is both disappointing and unsurprising," one supporter wrote, capturing the sentiment of many who saw the criticism as outdated and unnecessary.
A Life of Authenticity
This isn't the first time Owen has faced public scrutiny about her personal life. The shepherdess has previously been open about her separation from husband Clive Owen and the challenges of balancing television fame with the demands of running a 2,000-acre farm.
Through it all, she has maintained her commitment to showing the reality of farming life - whether that involves delivering lambs in the snow or, as in this case, taking a moment to cool off with her horses after a long day's work.
Her response to the bikini controversy reinforces why audiences have connected so strongly with the Yorkshire Shepherdess: in an era of carefully curated social media personas, Owen's unwavering authenticity continues to shine through.
