Television personality Ashley James has been widely applauded for sharing a powerful and 'inspirational' video on Instagram that champions body confidence and directly challenges the pervasive 'SkinnyTok' trend.
A Powerful Statement Against Social Media Pressure
The 38-year-old This Morning star, currently on a lavish girls' trip in Dubai with friends Maura Higgins, Una Healy, and Lucy Mecklenburgh, posted the clip from the luxury five-star Atlantis The Palm hotel. In it, she confidently showcases her unfiltered figure in a black halterneck bikini, walking around the resort and sitting on a sunlounger.
Addressing the rise of weight loss content on platforms like TikTok and the popularity of so-called 'fat jabs' such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, Ashley penned a defiant caption. "This isn’t just SkinnyTok," she began. "In a world that feels like we’re under more and more pressure to shrink, here’s a reminder that health, happiness and confidence doesn’t come from being the smallest version of yourself."
She powerfully added: "And I have more confidence in my body now than I ever did before. I’m proud of that, and I never want my daughter to see me hating on my body, and I want the same for you." Over the video itself, she simply wrote: "Bikini body ready because I have a bikini and a body."
Fans Hail 'Refreshing' and 'Inspirational' Message
The post was swiftly flooded with praise from fans and followers who found her message profoundly uplifting. Comments described the video as "refreshing" and "inspirational."
One supporter wrote: "Normal & natural is so lovely & gorgeous in a world full of other complications, this is refreshing." Another stated: "Finally, a natural healthy body shown on my feed, as a Mum we need more of this for our daughters!" Others called her a "total beauty, inside and out" and thanked her for the "so positive" content.
A Personal Journey to Self-Acceptance
This public stance follows Ashley's previous candid revelations about her own struggles with self-worth and body image. She has admitted it took her "a really long time" to reach a point of self-acceptance.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail last year, the mother-of-two—who shares daughter Ada, two, and son Alfie, five, with husband Tommy Andrews—explained her deep-seated motivation. "I really don't want my daughter to ever feel like she's not enough or to ever critique herself," she said. "Women are so much more than our bodies, and we should be learning how to respect ourselves and [find our] strength."
Ashley expressed a desire for her daughter to grow up free from the diet culture that she herself contended with. "I want Ada to grow up and know that she can be a footballer if she wants and not have to waste time thinking about food and diets," she shared.
Her passion for this issue is deeply personal. "I feel really passionate about it because I think it took me so long to get to a point where I respected and appreciated my body," Ashley explained, highlighting how society often makes "women's bodies trends." Her mission is to help others see that "skinniness and shrinking themselves" is not the ultimate goal.
Ashley's advocacy extends beyond her daughter, encompassing concerns for her young son as well. "I want to keep using my voice... to make not only the world better for my daughter, but also for my son because I worry about him as well growing up in this world," she stated, committing to fighting for equality and positive change.
