Jelena Dokič has hit ‘body shamers’ in an emotional post on Instagram.
The tennis champion, 40, took to social media to post powerful images of herself in sizes 6 and 16, along with a lengthy caption pleading with fans not to ‘judge’ her.
‘Are you going to judge me if I’m a size 16 for being a bigger size?’ the athlete turned commentator began.
“And are you going to judge me if I’m a size 6 again because I’m no longer a size bigger and maybe for losing weight?”
‘You don’t have to. Whatever it is,” added Dokić.
“Shaming and mocking someone based on their weight or judging someone’s worth based on their size is pure body shaming and bullying,” the former world No. 4 wrote.
“When it comes to health, of course I want to be healthy. Of course I do my best. I’m definitely working on myself.’
She went on to add, “The thing is, we need to stop obsessing about size and weight and measurements and focus on kindness, good hearts and generosity.”
‘So what if I’m a size 16 today and a size 4 down the road. Who cares!’
And finally, if you want to lose a few pounds, then what? If you gain a little weight, so what? There is nothing wrong with one or the other”, concluded Dokić.
The extraordinary post comes after Dokic recently refused to name and shame a vicious troll who attacked him 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 on Instagram last week, Jelena thanked her followers for their support before explaining why she decided not to expose the hater – even though many fans believed she should have.
“I don’t want to tell the story and name names as much as we are sometimes tempted to do,” she began.
“I want what I do to come from a good place. I want to be graceful and polite 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 publish their names they will get some bad messages and I don’t want anyone else, no matter what they’ve said, to be bullied or abused like they did to me.
“I hope you understand this,” she told her fans.
Jelena, a former teenage tennis star who escaped abuse at 19 and is now an outspoken advocate for victims of domestic violence, was attacked by trolls for her role as brand ambassador for Healthy Trim weight loss
“You’re so ignorant and rude – you think you’re brilliant, but you’re nothing,” Jelena sent to the troll.
“You are very obese promoting diet culture, but you also claim to be happy in your body,” they continued.
“Anyway, you’re a hypocrite advertising kindness, but you 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 shamed.
“I mean, besides selling your oil story, what do you do all day?”
Posting a video on Instagram on Monday, Jelena thanked her followers for their support before explaining why she decided not to expose the hater – even though many fans believed she should have.
“You’re so ignorant and rude – you think you’re great, but you’re nothing,” the troll wrote to Jelena.
Jelena replied: ‘When people ask me why I fight against trolling and where does the fight come from?’
‘Well here it is. Right here. Such comments,” she continued.
“This is why I do what I do and why I fight for goodness and against trolls, bullies and abusers online.
“This comment and this person speaks for itself. Just absolutely disgusting. I can’t even think of these kinds 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, adding that the product she promotes does not harm animals.
Fans and followers were quick to offer Jelena support for her video response.
“You are one classy lady, we continue to be in awe of you Jelena, gorgeous xxx,” one fan texted.
I can’t love Jelena more! Really practice what you preach xxx,’ added another.
Jelena – pictured in 2011 – rose to fame as a professional teenage tennis star
Jelena said that as a size 16, she wasn’t ‘chubby fat’ and was happy with her body.
“We need more Jelena Dokić in this world! Your strength is amazing, you are a pure inspiration,” one follower posted.
Last month, Jelena opened up to Stellar magazine about her years struggling with an eating disorder.
The tennis great revealed that she has 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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