TV Host Reminds Us All Why People Body Shame Others

There’s no shortage of stories that dismiss body shamers and celebrate the people who speak out against them. But those stories don’t always examine why people participate in body shaming in the first place.

Adamari López, an actress and Telemundo morning show host, was subjected to negative body comments in May after posting a swimsuit photo from a recent vacation with her partner Toni Costa. But instead of just speaking out against all the negativity, López took the opportunity to remind us that body shaming actually has little to do with the body in question.

“I think that when people criticize, they criticize themselves more,” she told the “Today” show. “I do not take it personal. Most likely, those individuals that criticize so brutally have a void in their lives, which reflects in trying to destroy or denigrate others, when in fact it is a reflection of what they have in their heart.”

The internet makes it so easy to dehumanize another person, and it can be difficult to understand the motivations of people who shame others in the first place. That’s why this reminder from López is so important.

And oh, if you were wondering if the comments did have an effect on López, she set the record straight on that, too.

“What some may not understand is that I am happy with my life and the things I have achieved as a woman, a professional and now a mother,” she said, adding, “The size or shape of your body doesn’t define you as a person, it doesn’t determine who you are or what you can contribute to the world.”

We’ll pose for a swimsuit snap to that.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.