Jelena Dokic slams body-shaming trolls after she was hit with vile abuse for losing 20kg in weight: ‘People have jumped on the shame train’

Aussie tennis great Jelena Dokic has hit back at her online trolls after she was criticised for losing 20 kilograms of weight. 

Dokic, 41, has long been open about her struggles with depression, social media abuse, body shaming and the family violence she suffered throughout her career.

The Australian has campaigned for people to support body image acceptance in others, but came under fire from trolls after revealing she recently lost 20kg from her heaviest weight last year.

She explained that the weight loss was thanks to healthier eating, but took to social media on Tuesday to reveal that people had shamed her for supposedly succumbing to ‘diet culture’ and ‘not representing the plus size people anymore’.

‘It’s not good if you gain weight and it’s not good if you lose weight. It’s not good if you are a size 0, 10 or 18 it seems,’ Dokic said in a lengthy Instagram post.

Jelena Dokic has hit back at her trolls after she copped vile abuse on social media

The former Australian tennis star has long been vocal on a number of issues 

‘So you all know I am very open and honest. Whether I gain weight, lose weight, depressed, feel great, go through the good or the bad. I am always honest about both sides.

‘So I thought I would just quickly address my recent weight loss because a few people have written to me and also commented. I have lost 20 kilos from my heaviest weight last year.

‘I had some health issues but also I just wanted to get healthier and fitter and when I turned 40 last year I really started to think about my family history of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems.

‘Also, my work has increased dramatically and I needed to be fitter both physically and mentally and have more energy.

‘I didn’t have enough energy especially mentally to keep up. I needed to eat healthier to achieve that.

‘So, I didn’t focus on weight so much but just making better choices to feel my best. With that, the weight started coming off.’

Despite leading a healthier lifestyle, Dokic said she was still being judged by strangers online.

Dokic says she will always be body-positive after she was criticised for no longer representing plus size people. Dokic pictured during her days as a professional tennis star (right)

‘Now since a few people have already jumped on the judgement and shame train for my weight loss and said that I have succumbed to the ‘diet culture’ and don’t represent the plus size people anymore please don’t even go there,’ she continued.

‘Getting healthier and doing what is best for me has nothing to do with it and I have always and always will stand up for both size 0 or size 20 people and especially women.

‘It was always about not judging, shaming and bullying people no matter what their weight and size is and instead highlighting that kindness is what matters not our size.

‘So, while I have lost 20 kilos it changes nothing.’

Dokic insisted that she will always be opposed to body shaming and will  ‘always be proud of myself and not hide or be embarrassed no matter what size I am.’ 

‘And I will always be against body shaming and against valuing people based on their size and weight no matter if I gain or lose some kilos and dress sizes.

‘Always against body shaming no matter what.’