Amanda Martin, a 34-year-old carer from Lowestoft, Suffolk, was targeted by online trolls who accused her of lying about her age after she posted selfies of her makeup routine. The abuse included a comment asking if 34 was in "dog years" and comparisons to a 60-year-old.
Abuse after makeup selfies
Martin, who has battled body dysmorphia and spent most of her life disliking her appearance, had been sharing creative makeup looks on social media to boost her confidence. The posts had provided a space to connect with like-minded people, but the recent snap attracted a wave of hateful comments.
Although she laughed off some of the abuse, the influx of hate knocked her back. She is now refusing to let the bullies win and has vowed to keep posting as an example of what real, unfiltered women look like.
Hitting back at haters
Martin said: "Personally, I think a lot of our distorted idea of what different ages are supposed to look like comes from advertising, the media and now social media too." She added that people are surrounded by images of women with smooth skin and few visible signs of ageing, without knowing what is behind them, whether editing, filters, cosmetic treatments or expensive beauty routines.
She said she has nothing against anyone choosing Botox, fillers or other treatments if it makes them happy, but believes women can feel under pressure to have them because of an unrealistic and often expensive version of beauty being sold. She noted that seeing normal things like lines, texture and signs of ageing can surprise people, and called for more real faces to be shown, adding that getting older is not something women should have to hide or apologise for.
Impact of the abuse
Speaking about the toll the abuse took on her, Martin admitted: "Some of the comments genuinely made me laugh, but I'd be lying if I said they didn't affect me at all." She said she has been bullied about her appearance for most of her life, and seeing hundreds of strangers questioning whether she is really 34 opened up old wounds.
She said the experience hurt at first but has helped her develop a thicker skin. She has realised there will always be someone with an opinion about how she looks, especially on social media, and she does not want those opinions to stop her doing something she loves. "I'm still human and sometimes a comment will get to me, but I'm learning that somebody else's opinion of my face doesn't have to become my opinion of myself," she said.
