In addition to health consciousness, one more trend took the front seat in the fitness industry – body positivity. It fosters acceptance of all body types, regardless of size, shape, stature, physical abilities, color, and gender. Body positivity caught the spotlight in the past few years, as many have been taking strides to promote awareness about body inclusion. One such proponent, is none other than the tallest bodybuilding sensation, Maria Wattel.
Though many influencers and social media personalities spearhead the movement, terms like ‘body shaming’ and ‘idol body representations’ are still prevalent. Nevertheless, with a staggering stature of 182.7 cm, the 42-year-old Maria Wattel takes pride in her physique and shares a message about how one can overlook the prevailing standards.
Maria Wattel’s intriguing take on body positivity
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Recently, the Dutch bodybuilder dished her thoughts on body inclusion and acceptance through her Instagram handle. The 42-year-old shared a video in which she is posing for the lens, while flaunting her meticulous physique. Captioning the post, Wattel penned, “Every body is triggered and tripping out over labels and to be “accepted”, guess what if we all just focus on our own sh*t”.
She further detailed the reasons for her infrequent use of social media. The 42-year-old wrote, “maybe just maybe nobody would freak out…reason why you don’t see me much on social media, I just focus on my own sh*t”. Interestingly, Wattel also pulled off the curtains from the main agenda of her upcoming interview.
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The bodybuilder added, “I never just post random things on Instagram, but all the talk recently about #body positivity…(and my upcoming interview)”. Nevertheless, the 42-year-old once fell prey to the opinions of internet trolls, after winning a huge accolade.
Wattel expressed her disappointment after facing gender bias due to her height
In 2021, Wattel inscribed her name in the Guinness Book of World Records for ‘Tallest Professional Bodybuilder Female’. As she rose to fame after the momentous victory, she penned a heartfelt message. Sharing a picture of herself, the 42-year-old wrote, “Hell will freeze over by the time they start rewarding TALL FEMALE athletes in our sport the way THEY REWARD tall MEN”.
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She further explained how men are accepted easily for being unique, extraordinary, and balanced. Whereas, women face the opposite trajectory. Wattel added, “Tall girls are usually pushed to the back and outcasted”. Clearly, the Dutch fitness icon is now advocating for what needs to be rectified when it comes to body positivity. What do you think of her perspective?
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