TV presenter Ashley James has spoken out against diet culture and toxic beauty standards, sharing her journey from chasing perfection to finding love and respect for her body after motherhood. She discusses refusing to shrink, embracing her figure at 39, and using social media to open up taboo topics around body confidence and parenting.
Ashley James said she will 'never be silenced' by mum-shaming trolls as she posed for a new sizzling Pour Moi lingerie photoshoot. The This Morning star, 39, has vowed to fight against 'diet culture and toxic beauty standards ' as she admitted she has been 'chasing perfection' for years which made her 'unhappy'.
Ahead of giving birth to her two children Alfie, five, and Ada, three, with partner Tommy Andrews, Ashley feared that getting pregnant would ruin her body. But the ITV star has now insisted she has found a 'new love and respect for her body' and has stopped thinking of herself as an 'aesthetic object'.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Ashley said: 'It's taken me like a long time to be confident, I think having a baby ironically gave me such a newfound love and respect for my body which I wasn't expecting.
'Everybody tells you that your body is going to be ruined after having a baby but it's done something so incredible. Ashley James said she will 'never be silenced' by mum-shaming trolls as she posed for a new sizzling Pour Moi lingerie photoshoot The This Morning star, 39, has vowed to fight against 'toxic beauty standards' as she admitted she has been 'chasing perfection' for years which made her 'unhappy' 'I had so many health issues postnatally that I just really think it changed how I saw my body, almost like not as this aesthetic object anymore but I wanted to be strong and healthy.
' Ashley, who often appears on This Morning to debate major current events, modern parenting and women's rights, added that she will never be 'ashamed' for sharing her opinions as she opened up about social media. She continued: 'I'll never be silenced and I find as a mum that social media has actually been amazing for opening up so many taboo topics.
'Of course not everyone is going to like what you say or agree and everyone's experiences are different but I've certainly learned so much not just about parenthood, motherhood, different family dynamics but also with body confidence. 'Everybody looks different ways and I think that's why I try to always focus on the great parts of social media and I'll never be ashamed of that but equally you know I never intend to to upset or offend anybody.
' As Ashley posed in a sexy yellow lace lingerie set showcasing her amazing figure for the campaign, she said she 'refuses to shrink' and is disappointed in the size zero look. She continued: 'I'm being confident and unashamed and also like refusing to shrink, especially in this day and age where it feels like body image has kind of gone back to that sort of 90s heroin chic era which is a shame.
'The more that I kind of stepped away from that habit of restriction the more I appreciated my body as a whole. 'I think we're very good at looking at other people's bodies and recognising that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes but we bully ourselves so much more.
' Ahead of welcoming her two children, Alfie, five, and Ada, three, with partner Tommy Andrews, Ashley revealed she had feared that getting pregnant would ruin her body But the ITV star has now insisted she has found a 'new love and respect for her body' and has stopped thinking of herself as an 'aesthetic object' Read MoreEXCLUSIVE Ashley James feels 'bad ass' for fronting a lingerie campaign aged 39 as she poses for Pour Moi Elsewhere in the chat, Ashley gushed that she is proud to have been asked to strip off for the campaign at age 39 as she insisted 'you don't have to be a size zero to be successful'.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the mother-of-two said: 'I felt pretty bad ass getting a lingerie campaign at 39.
'In my 20's I was constantly feeling like I was trying to chase perfection which was actually making me more unhappy in the real world. 'The more I focused on shrinking myself the less confident I became because I was chasing an idea of perfection. 'I want to show society that there is another way and that confidence does come in different shapes and sizes.
I think that's why I feel so aligned with this specific campaign and I want to show that you don't have to be a size zero to be successful.
' Ashley added: 'There isn't just one type of body and you can spend your whole life wishing you had a different body, but ultimately your body is your body and you should focus on things that we can control like having a banging lingerie set or nourishing your body. ' Previously Ashley has been praised for her 'inspirational' bikini photos on Instagram as she said: 'I have more confidence in my body now than I ever did before.
' The TV personality enjoyed a lavish getaway to Dubai earlier this year and showcased her unfiltered figure in a halterneck two-piece and matching bottoms as she sat on a sun lounger. She hit back at 'SkinnyTok' as she proudly walked around the luxury five-star Atlantis The Palm hotel in the black bikini. The mother-of-two looked incredible in the swimwear as she turned around to show her body from front to back.
The This Morning star told fans that 'happiness and confidence' don't come from being the 'smallest version of yourself', as she penned over the clip: 'Bikini body ready because I have a bikini and a body.
' She told the Daily Mail: 'I'll never be silenced and I find as a mum that social media has actually been amazing for opening up so many taboo topics' Ashley posed in a sexy lace lingerie set showcasing her amazing figure for the campaign, she said she 'refuses to shrink' and is disappointed in the 'size zero look' Addressing the rise in weight loss content on social media and fat jabs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, she captioned the post: 'This isn’t just SkinnyTok. '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.
'And I have more confidence in my body now than I ever did before. 'And 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. ' Fans and friends rushed to the comments to praise Ashley for her 'refreshing' and 'inspirational' body confidence video.
They penned: 'Normal & natural is so lovely & gorgeous in a world full of other complications, this is refreshing'; 'A total beauty, inside and out; Beautiful natural bodies.. we need to see more of these; So good, so beautiful, so positive!! Thank you'; 'Finally, a natural healthy body shown on my feed, as a Mum we need more of this for our daughters! x'; 'You are gorgeous but your love for your body and your confidence in it is bedazzling!
Go you! Inspirational for all women.
' For more information on Ashley James ‘Designed For Me, Designed For Real Life’ campaign visit Pour Moi’s website.
Please follow us on Google to support us Body Positivity Motherhood Beauty Standards Lingerie Campaign Social Media
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ashley Judd's Playful Ocean Dip and Inner Child Healing JourneyActress Ashley Judd shares a joyful video of herself playing in the Baltic Sea, promoting a movement to empower midlife women and reflecting on her personal journey to heal childhood trauma by embracing play and nature.
Read more »
Olivia Rodrigo isn't radicalAs she releases her third album, the 23-year-old star is still shaking off her Disney beginnings - she's not nearly as noisy as she sometimes appears
Read more »
Inside 'hidden' lives of millionaire twins Mary-Kate and Ashley as they turn 40Famous twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen transitioned from beloved sitcom infants after their breakout role in sitcom Full House into absolute entertainment and marketing powerhouses before they even hit high school
Read more »
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen celebrate baby news ahead of big celebrationThe Olsen twins are preparing for a major family milestone after younger sister Elizabeth Olsen's exciting baby announcement. See details
Read more »