Robyn Lawley Shows off Her Stretch Marks to Address an Offensive Tabloid Article

Robyn Lawley proudly shows off her #tigerstripes. Photo: @robynlawley1

Robyn Lawley is calling out a UK tabloid that had some unsavory things to say about her during her pregnancy last year. The model posted an image to Facebook, showing off her stretch marks, using the caption to address a Cosmopolitan interview “from a very honest maybe too honest conversation with a friend” which she claims was taken badly out of context in the press. According to Lawley, the tabloid article in question said, “Robyn considers abortion to avoid stretch marks.”

The model says she was 7 months pregnant when she saw the piece. “I was shocked not only because that is not what I said, not to mention I already had a tonne of stretch marks like 90% of the world, but to read that entire article and be already heavily pregnant, that’s their angle?” she wrote.

Lawley is no stranger to being publicly criticized for her body. After posting a fitspo image to Instagram last year, the model was inundated with angry comments on her status as a plus sized model – a classification Lawley had already said was ridiculous. Lawley even mentioned that she’s been slammed for not having a thigh gap. But this time, things were taken too far. “To bully me for something I never said, not to mention my decision would need to be more based on the fact that I will be taking care of someone’s life, a heavy decision to make, would never rest on getting stretch marks alone.”

Lawley and her daughter, being adorable. Photo: @princeandjacob​

The piece was later pulled, but that didn’t make it any less hurtful. Of course, in the midst of such negativity, Lawley bolstered her argument with a healthy dose of body affirmation. The girl has stretch marks and she is not ashamed. “I knew they were coming and as they’re fading into white ( like all my others) I thought I might capture them. Because they are some bad ass ‪#‎tigerstripes‬. And I earned them.” Lawley also commented on the politicization of women’s bodies when it comes to abortion, particularly how anti-abortion policies sometimes wind up putting women in more dire straits when they have a child they can’t afford to take care of.

“We often forget those women who do have a child because they couldn’t get access to an abortion because of state laws and no one is there for her when she’s denied health care or becomes homeless due to staggering costs or even has to change her entire career. It’s 2015 we have to urgently make women feel empowered by their bodies and minds. We should not be taking their rights and choices away. “

We can’t imagine how hurtful it must be for a pregnant woman to read a story claiming she’s opting out of a pregnancy for reasons of vanity. Also: a woman’s reason for getting an abortion is no one’s business and it is no one’s place to shame somebody for making (or thinking of making) such a personal and difficult decision. Brava, Lawley, for once again putting the haters in their place!

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