A fashion influencer was left in tears and embarrassed after Qantas ground staff questioned her outfit and almost stopped her from boarding her flight.
Poppy Radbone, who is pregnant, was about to board a flight from her home city of Adelaide to Sydney last Friday when her attire led to an “awkward” interrogation.
Radbone, who blogs about family and fashion, told her 30,000 Instagram followers about what happened, alongside a photo of her in the outfit she was wearing.
“Shout out to Qantas for almost not letting me board my flight to Sydney on Friday because she was following ‘protocol’ with my pregnant belly out,” she said.
‘I literally left in tears, I was so ashamed and have never felt so uncomfortable before.’
Fashion influencer Poppy Radbone (pictured) was left in tears and embarrassed after Qantas ground crew questioned her outfit and tried to stop her from boarding her flight. She wore this outfit above at the time
Radbone’s fans sympathized with her, with some saying they had also encountered problems flying while pregnant.
“My friend who was traveling with me congratulated me on the pregnancy as we boarded,” wrote Pippa Wanganeen, another influencer from Adelaide.
‘I was only 14 weeks and didn’t even show up and they wouldn’t let me board the plane until I was fully questioned about my ‘condition’.
‘It was absolutely horrible!’ she said, before telling Radbone that she “looked beautiful.”
Another supporter said what happened was “discrimination at its finest.” Show off that baby bump, you look absolutely amazing.”
Radbone was encouraged by many to continue wearing outfits like the one that caused her some grief from Qantas.
“That’s awful, keep wearing your crop tops to show your stomach,” one wrote.
Another said: ‘I have so much respect for the way you use your style to embrace and celebrate your bump and motherhood.
‘I think it’s empowering for other women to see that too! You have every right to show it off and feel beautiful, don’t worry about that, queen.”
One supporter said what happened to Radbone (pictured) was ‘discrimination at its finest’. Show off that baby bump, you look absolutely amazing’
Poppy Radbone (photo) blogs about family and fashion and has 30,000 Instagram followers
Others said it was Qantas, not Radbone, who should be ashamed of what happened.
Qantas admitted the airline had made a mistake by telling the influencer her company was in breach of guidelines.
“Although Ms Radbone was eventually able to board her flight, we accept that the initial interaction with our crew member during boarding was distressing.
“We are contacting Ms Radbone to apologise,” a Qantas spokesperson told Ny Breaking Australia.