Even supermodels aren't immune to having their "flaws" picked apart by others. After Candice Swanepoel gave birth to her second child on June 19, the Victoria's Secret Angel found herself under fire for the crime of having a postpartum belly.
Candice recently spoke out about the criticism. She refuses to feel ashamed, and she wants women everywhere to know it.
Just days after her birth, trolls were already coming at Candice for having a slight belly. The mother of two clapped back on her Instagram stories.
"I'm not ashamed to show my post-partum tummy. I am proud actually… I carried my son for 9 months in there, I think I've earned the right to have a little tummy," Candice captioned a photo of herself, 12 days after giving birth.
At 29 years old, the South African model has been a Victoria's Secret Angel since 2010. Her statement about her body is inspiring women everywhere.
After all, if even an actual Victoria's Secret model can't escape body-shaming, it bears repeating that none of us should feel bad about our bodies, ever.
Candice gave birth to her first son, Anacan, in 2016.
Candice and her long-time partner, Hermann Nicoli, announced that they were pregnant with a second child in December 2017.
And Candice shared lots of glorious photos of her pregnant belly.
On June 19, she welcomed another son, Ariel.
And like any new mama deserves to do in the summer, she's been spending time at the beach with her little ones.
Unfortunately, everyone seems to have an opinion on Candice's post-pregnancy body, and some of them are downright cruel. The comments on her most recent photo are the perfect example.
One person even compared her to a whale. (Clearly, this person has never seen a whale.)
It seems the cruel comments began pretty much immediately after her birth, with people fussing over Candice's beach belly when she was just 12 days postpartum.
So the model finally spoke up on Instagram stories.
“This is me 12 days after having my son. If you have something bad to say about it… check yourself. Society can be so cruel to one another. Beauty standards are sometimes impossible for women these days," Candice wrote.
"Is it because I'm a model? Well we are normal people too so let me enjoy the beach in peace please."
Candice posted a follow-up photo of herself while she was still pregnant with yet more fire.
"I don't have to hide my stomach just because people have unrealistic standards of woman. We create life… what can you do? Ladies we are all in this together be kind to each other."
Candace's comments are inspiring fellow new moms, who can be really hard on themselves about their post-baby bodies.
And even women who have never been pregnant can relate to Candice's statement.
Because having a belly is totally normal for any woman.
And expecting a woman to look exactly the same after giving birth is unrealistic and harmful. Supermodel or not, there's no excuse for the body-shaming.
But Candice adores being a mom, and she's not going to let a little ignorance stop her from sharing that with the world.
She's proof that you can be a supermodel with a "perfect" body.
And also be a mom with a lil' belly and feelings that can be hurt.
Rock on, Candice.
