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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Carsen Holaday

Dance Moms star rails against ‘diabolical’ body shaming comments

Dance Moms alum Paige Hyland is firing back at people who make comments about her body.

The former reality star, 25, shared a video on her TikTok account Saturday responding to “diabolical” comments accusing her of having an eating disorder in the comments of her latest Instagram post, which featured her wearing a bikini on vacation.

“Get ready with me while we talk about why it’s never okay to comment on someone’s body,” said Hyland, who was on the first four seasons of the hit Lifetime reality show. “It’s 2026, I thought we all knew this but I guess we need a little refresher.”

She went on to say, “I posted this picture on Instagram and honestly, the comments I got were actually diabolical. There were so many people saying I looked anorexic, I’m promoting unhappy eating habits and that, as an influencer, I shouldn’t be encouraging this behavior.”

“But as an influencer, I feel like it’s my responsibility to stand up for people whose bodies naturally look like mine,” Hyland said.

@paigehyland_3

let’s normalize commenting literally anything besides someone’s body 🫶🫶🫶

♬ original sound - Paige Hyland

Hyland said that she has been thin her entire life and that “losing weight has never been a goal.” She then shut down claims about her having an eating disorder.

“I’m also seeing people confidently say that I’ve opened up about having an eating disorder, which is just not true,” she said. “I’ve never came out and said that because I’ve never had one, which I’m extremely grateful for.”

She said: “But if I did have an eating disorder, imagine reading comments from thousands of people picking apart my body and diagnosing me when they have no idea what’s going on? That is not concern, that is public body-shaming disguised as concern, which is not cute.”

Hyland went on to insist that she has always been naturally thin, despite the fact that she “eats everything.”

Paige Hyland, pictured here in April 2024, was on the first four seasons of reality show 'Dance Moms' (Getty)
Paige Hyland, pictured here in April 2024, was on the first four seasons of reality show 'Dance Moms' (Getty)

“While I’m confident in myself, I know there’s other girls who probably look like me that are reading the comments on my picture thinking there’s something wrong with their bodies,” she said. “That genuinely makes me sick to my stomach. Just like it’s wrong for shaming someone for being bigger, it’s also wrong for shaming them for being smaller.”

She ended the clip by demanding that the body positivity movement include all types of bodies.

“So before you go to comment on someone’s weight, whether it’s, ‘You look too skinny,’ ‘Eat a burger,’ whatever it is, just don’t,” she concluded. “Instead, maybe compliment their smile or tell them that you like their outfit. There’s so many other things you can do besides commenting on someone’s body.”

If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, visit the National Alliance for Eating Disorders website or call their hotline at (866) 662-1235

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