Jelena Dokic has hit out at ‘body shamers’ in an emotional Instagram post.
The tennis champion, 40, took to social media to post powerful images of herself at sizes 6 and 16, along with a lengthy caption imploring fans not to ‘judge’ her.
‘Will you judge me if I am a size 16 for being a bigger size?’ began the athlete-turned-commentator.
‘And will you judge me if I am ever a size 6 again for not being a bigger size anymore and for maybe losing weight?’
‘You shouldn’t. Either way,’ added Dokic.
‘Shaming and making fun of someone based on their weight or judging someone’s worth based on size is pure body shaming and bullying,’ wrote the former world number 4 ranked player.
‘When it comes to health, of course I want to be healthy. Of course I do my best. Of course I am working on myself.’
She went on to add, ‘The takeaway being that we need to stop obsessing about size, weight and measurements and focus on kindness, good hearts and generosity.’
‘So what if I am a size 16 today and a size 4 down the track. Who cares!’
‘And lastly, if you want to lose a few kilos, so what? If you gain some weight, so what? Nothing wrong with one or the other,’ concluded Dokic.
The extraordinary post comes after Dokic recently refused to name and shame a vicious troll who attacked her online.
The retired tennis star was accused of being a ‘hypocrite’ and called ‘morbidly obese’ in the vile post, which she shared with fans on her Instagram on Sunday.
Posting a video to Instagram last week, Jelena thanked her followers for supporting her before explaining why she decided not to expose the hater – even though many fans believed she should have.
‘I don’t want to show the account and show the names as much as we are sometimes tempted to do,’ she began.
‘I want what I do to come from a place of kindness. I want to be graceful and kind and do it with dignity,’ she continued.
The 40-year-old was accused of being a ‘hypocrite’ and called ‘morbidly obese’ in the vile post, which she shared with fans on her Instagram on Sunday
‘I know if I do publish their names they’ll get some bad messages and I don’t want anyone else, regardless of what they’ve said, to be bullied or abused, even though they’ve done it to me.
‘I hope you can understand that,’ she told her fans.
Jelena, a former teenage tennis star who escaped abuse at age 19 and is now an outspoken advocate for victims of domestic violence, came under attack from the troll for her role as ambassador for the weight loss brand Healthy Trim
‘You are so ignorant and rude – you think you are great but you are nothing,’ the troll messaged Jelena.
‘You are morbidly obese advertising diet culture but also claim you are happy in your body,’ they continued.
‘Anyway, you are a hypocrite advertising kindness but advertise products that are cruel to animals. Just because you were a victim doesn’t make you a great person now,’ the troll raged and ranted.
‘I mean, other than selling your sob story, what do you do all day?’
Posting a video to Instagram on Monday, Jelena thanked her followers for supporting her before explaining why she decided not to expose the hater – even though many fans believed she should have
‘You are so ignorant and rude – you think you are great but you are nothing,’ the troll messaged Jelena
Jelena responded: ‘When people ask me why I fight against trolling and where does the fight come from??’
‘Well here it is. Right here. Comments like this,’ she continued.
‘This is why I do what I do and why I fight for kindness and against trolls, bullies and online abusers.
‘This comment and this person speaks for itself. Just absolutely disgusting. I can’t even think of these type of horrible comments let alone send them to someone.’
Elsewhere in the response, Jelena said that as a size 16, she was not ‘morbidly obese’ and was happy with her body and added that the product she promotes does not harm animals.
Fans and followers were quick offer Jelena support for her video response.
‘You’re a classy lady, we continue to be in awe of you Jelena, amazing xxx,’ messaged one fan.
‘I couldn’t love that more Jelena! Really practising what you preach xxx,’ added another.
Jelena – pictured in 2011 – rose to fame as a professional teen tennis star
Jelena said that as a size 16, she was not ‘morbidly obese’ and was happy with her body
‘We need more Jelena Dokic’s in this world! Your strength is amazing, you’re a pure inspiration,’ posted a follower.
Last month, Jelena opened up to Stellar magazine about her years struggling with an eating disorder.
The tennis great revealed she spent years struggling with her relationship with food due to the trauma she experienced growing up.
She said much of her disordered eating stemmed from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father and his weaponization of food when she was just a teenager.
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