She rose to fame as the tough as nails personal trainer on The Biggest Loser.
And now Michelle Burgess has been accused of promoting an ‘unrealistic’ body image on her social media.
The 53-year-old raised eyebrows on Friday when she posted a selfie to Instagram that showed off her tiny waist.
Despite flaunting her enviable figure, some of Michelle’s followers were enraged that she wasn’t showcasing a more relatable image.
In the photo, the famed fitness guru can be seen showing off her toned figure in a skintight black leather skirt with a thigh-high split.
Fitness guru Michelle Burgess, 53, was accused of promoting an ‘unrealistic’ body image by sharing a photo of her tiny waist (pictured) this week
A number of fans took to social media to slam the fitness trainer for her small waist
Michelle turned her body to the side in the photo, which made her waist look impossibly tiny.
One fan suggested that Michelle was ‘sucking in’ her waist to make it look smaller, while another said the photo was ‘unrealistic’.
‘You are looking fantastic but I can’t help thinking that you are making your waist appear smaller by sucking it in?’ wrote one concerned fan.
‘I may be wrong but photos like this make me angry due to the fact that people look at it and think they would like to be like that too, even though it’s not technically real,’ they continued.
‘I believe that all influences should show their “natural” selves, especially as they can have an enormous role on women and body image.’
The photos on Michelle’s Instagram page don’t appear to be edited, and her waist has looked small in various images that have been shared in recent months
Added another: ‘A totally unrealistic photo, sending the wrong message. Please keep it real.’
‘Where has natural gone?’ another follower complained.
Despite the backlash, many others came to Michelle’s defense and praised the star for keeping in shape.
‘You are a stunning stunning lady,’ gushed one, while another exclaimed, ‘Beautiful!’
‘Stunning and beautiful to me always, love your dress and your mirror selfie,’ added another.
The photos on Michelle’s Instagram page don’t appear to be edited, and her waist has looked small in various images.
Rising to fame on The Biggest Loser in 2007, Michelle also appeared in Celebrity MasterChef Australia in 2009, Dancing with the Stars in 2019 and Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2021
Rising to fame on The Biggest Loser in 2007, Michelle went on to appear on Celebrity MasterChef Australia in 2009, Dancing with the Stars in 2019, and Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2021.
The fitness fanatic shares a son Axel, eight, with her former partner Steve ‘Commando’ Willis.
The couple split in 2020 after meeting on The Biggest Loser in 2012.
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