Paige Spiranac is not new to body shaming. When she retired from pro golf in 2016 and went on a journey to build her empire, she knew it’d be difficult. She encountered countless trolls, but she always spoke her mind. One instance where she posted a video of swinging from behind, immediately, comments started rolling in: “chunky,” “letting herself go” and “getting older.” Spiranac was quick to defend herself on her Instagram story, writing, “I feel that I am happy and I’m healthy and I look fine. Because I have a little bit of cellulite, it shouldn’t warrant these types of comments.” She is at ANGC for the 2025 Masters, and found herself facing familiar criticism, and her response was no different.

It was during the excitement of Masters week when a golf fan decided to share what he called a “controversial take” on one of Spiranac’s posts: “Controversial take, but I like when women are kinda fat like this.” The comment was clearly meant to provoke a reaction, but what the troll got instead was a masterclass in handling criticism with humor and grace.

Rather than ignoring the comment or responding with anger, Spiranac chose to disarm the situation with wit. “I’ll keep snacking on those peach ice cream sandwiches then😂,” she replied, effectively turning the attempted insult into a joke at the troll’s expense. The response quickly garnered more engagement than the original comment, with fans praising her handling of the situation.

This isn’t the first time Spiranac has had to navigate the murky waters of social media trolling. Despite her recent rekindled passion for golf and increased practice sessions that have her “playing better than ever,” the criticism never seems to stop. When she excitedly shared her love for the game on Instagram, saying “I’ve been getting asked a lot to post more golf content… I actually practiced hard, played some really cool courses, and fell back in love with the game,” trolls quickly emerged.

One commented, “The trouble is you earn way more money doing that other stuff,” to which Spiranac swiftly responded: “Actually that’s not really true lol golf is a conservative industry so the ‘other stuff’ can impact brand deals lol I do it because I like it and don’t feel like a woman should cover up if she doesn’t want to.”

Spiranac’s ability to diffuse tension with humor while refusing to let critics dictate her self-image has become her trademark response to online harassment. This latest comeback exemplifies how she consistently transforms negative interactions into moments that actually strengthen her connection with her true fans.

A history of facing body shamers with resilience and grace

Spiranac’s battle with body shamers extends far beyond this isolated Masters week incident. In her podcast “Playing a Round with Paige Renee,” she addressed the impact directly: “I was being body shamed and I’m nowhere near. I should never be called fat…I’m just not.” She emphasized how such comments damage not just her but countless women who witness this treatment.

The golf personality has openly shared her previous struggles with an eating disorder during college, revealing, “I didn’t eat anything, I was so stressed and had so much anxiety in my life that I just wasn’t eating. So I was a fair amount thinner. But that’s not healthy. And I wasn’t happy at that point in my life.” This candid admission highlights her journey toward prioritizing health over appeasing critics.

Even high-profile media figures have targeted her. When FOX News’ Lisa Boothe questioned whether Spiranac could rightfully complain about objectification given her social media presence, Spiranac responded with her characteristic directness: “I clearly stated a big part of my brand is my body, and that comes with a territory.” This response underscores her ownership of her image while maintaining boundaries against disrespect.

As Masters week continues, Spiranac will likely keep sharing her golf insights and predictions, regardless of the unwarranted commentary about her appearance. And if her response to this latest troll is any indication, she’ll continue to do so with humor, grace, and perhaps a peach ice cream sandwich in hand.