Abby Pell is a British fitness blogger who recently won fourth place in a the World Beauty Fitness & Fashion competition.
But instead of celebrating her accomplishment, the 33-year old is being forced to defend a photo she put on Facebook nearly a year ago.
The image in question features Pell, her impressive six-pack and her cute daughter. The latter is pointing at her mom’s stomach above the words:
I have a kid, a six pack and no excuse.
"This is fat shaming, pure and simple," one user wrote in response to the photo, which resurfaced this week after Pell's performance. "Exploiting your motherhood to show off is despicable and shameless."
Another critic referred to the image as "demeaning" and wondered whether Pell has a job.
Pell isn't the first in-shape mother to come under fire for bragging about her figure.
In October, Maria Kang showed off her trim body while posing with her three young children and also asked readers: What’s your excuse?
Known as "Fit Mom," Kang was actually booted off Facebook for a bit after going on a fat shaming rant.
Pell, however, seems to at least be sympathetic to those she offended.
On reflection, I can see why it caused a little controversy,” she tells People. “I could have picked a different caption, true, but would I have reached as many people as I did?"
Pell concluded:
"My extreme transformation was a good advert for an underlying message that if you have a fitness goal, whatever it might be, being a mum won’t stop you from achieving it."
