Anyone who works on camera, whether as a journalist or in any other public role, quickly learns to deal with negative comments about their looks. In today’s world, the internet has made it easy for people to criticize others from the safety of their screens.
This kind of judgment is something you expect when you’re in the spotlight, but for Kristen Nicole, the anchor of “Good Day Chicago,” even she was shocked by the complaints she received about her baby bump.
Kristen, already a mom to one, was expecting another child when she received the unexpected backlash. It all started when she was sitting behind the news desk one day, wearing a beautiful form-fitting blue dress that showed off her baby bump. As soon as viewers saw her on screen, complaints started pouring in.
According to AOL, viewers took to social media and even directly contacted her news station to express their displeasure, saying that Kristen’s baby bump was “too visible.” Of all things to complain about, the fact that she was pregnant seemed to ruffle some feathers.
You might think that a successful working mom, still coming to work while in the final stretch of her pregnancy, would deserve some praise and encouragement. But no—some people always seem to have something negative to say, no matter how hard you try.
Kristen, undeterred, responded quickly with a sharp post on her Facebook page. She made it clear that she wasn’t going to let the criticism get to her. “LET ME SAVE YOU SOME TROUBLE,” Kristen began, addressing her critics. “My email address is ***, but if you’re writing to tell me that you’re offended by the sight of my baby bump, don’t hold your breath waiting for a response.
It’s not coming.” She added that she had worn the same dress “probably once a month,” and no one had ever complained about it before.
Kristen wasn’t shy about voicing her frustrations. “Wear it almost 8 months pregnant? Woah…disgusting, right? (insert massive eye roll).” With her humor and confidence, Kristen made it clear she wasn’t going to stop wearing what made her feel good, just because a few people didn’t approve.
She then turned her attention to the people who had directly emailed her—three viewers named Karen, Gene, and Sabrina. “To Karen, Gene, and Sabrina who wrote to me today, use your time better,” Kristen urged. “Pay someone a compliment. Do a good deed.”
Kristen wasn’t all sarcasm, though. She also took a moment to express gratitude. “To everyone else who has sent messages of congratulations and well wishes,” she wrote, “You are keeping me motivated through these last 6 weeks. We’re finally in the home stretch! I have had a healthy, comfortable, stress-free pregnancy. My husband, son, and I are beyond excited to meet our new addition.
Thank you for being a part of our journey!”
It turns out Kristen received three emails from three different viewers, all expressing discomfort with her baby bump being visible in her dress. One woman even went so far as to suggest that Kristen was wearing a fake bump to boost ratings. Another critic felt she should have worn more “standard” maternity clothing.
But Kristen wasn’t having any of it. She knew that she had the right to feel good in her clothes, pregnancy or not. In the end, she chose to focus on the positive messages of support and excitement she received from her fans, keeping her spirits high as she approached the final weeks of her pregnancy.
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