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’

Australian tennis star Jelena Dokic has hit back at her online trolls after being criticized for losing 20 kilos.

Dokic, 41, has long been open about her struggles with depression, social media abuse, body shaming and the domestic violence she has 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 had recently lost 20kg from her heaviest weight last year.

She explained that the weight loss was down to healthier eating, but revealed on social media on Tuesday that people had shamed her for allegedly succumbing to “diet culture” and “no longer representing the plus-size population.”

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

Jelena Dokic has hit back at her trolls after facing vicious abuse on social media

The former Australian tennis star has long spoken out on a number of issues

“So you all know I’m very open and honest. Whether I’m gaining weight, losing weight, depressed, feeling good, experiencing the good or the bad. I am always honest about both sides.

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

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

‘In addition, my work has increased enormously and I had to be fitter and have more energy, both physically and mentally.

‘Especially mentally, I didn’t have enough energy to keep it up. To achieve that, I had to start eating healthier.

“So I didn’t focus so much on the weight, just making better choices to feel my best.” That started to take the weight off.”

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

Dokic says she will always remain positive about her body after being criticized for no longer representing plus-size people. Dokic pictured during her days as a professional tennis player (right)

“Now that a few people have already jumped on the judgment and shame train over my weight loss and said that I have succumbed to ‘diet culture’ and no longer represent the plus size people, please don’t even go there,” she went Through.

‘Being healthier and doing what’s best for me has nothing to do with it and I will always and always stand up for both size 0 and size 20 people and especially women.

‘It has always been about not judging, shaming and bullying people, regardless of their weight and height, and instead emphasizing that kindness matters, not our size.

“So even though I’ve lost 20 pounds, nothing changes.”

Dokic emphasized that she will always be against body shaming and will “always be proud of myself and not hide or embarrass myself, regardless of my size.”

‘And I will always be against body shaming and against valuing people based on their size and weight, regardless of whether I gain or lose a few pounds and clothing size.

‘Always against body shaming, no matter what.’