A Little Girl’s Brilliant Comeback to Body-Shaming

Alison Kimmey, a well-known social media personality frequently shares empowering messages about body image and self-love, especially for plus-size women. She shared that when her five-year-old daughter, Campbell, faced fat-shaming at school, she handled it like a true role model.

In a heartfelt post shared with her thousands of followers, Kimmey recounted how Campbell came home and told her that a classmate had called her “fat,” and the other children laughed. “Really? And what did you say to her?” Kimmey asked, her heart sinking. “At that moment, I spiraled into an inner monologue,” she wrote. “I thought, ‘Oh no, here it begins. What I went through, my daughter is now going to experience.’”

But Campbell, young as she is, had clearly absorbed the self-confidence and body-positive messages she had grown up hearing. “I told her I’m not fat- I have fat. Everyone has fat,” Campbell explained, without missing a beat. “I smiled at her and said, ‘It’s okay to have fat on our bodies, because without it, our bodies couldn’t do many things.’”

Kimmey was overwhelmed with pride. “I told her how proud I was of how she handled the situation, even though I’m sure it didn’t feel good. I explained to her that ‘fat’ isn’t a bad word, and I don’t think the classmate meant to hurt her. It was so brave and wise of her to make that distinction and help the other girl understand too, that everyone has fat, and that fat doesn’t define our worth.”

Campbell absorbed the message- but, true to her honest and thoughtful nature, she also had a moment of reflection. “Mom,” she said quietly, “do you remember when I called you fat once?” With a regretful look, she added, “I’m sorry I did that. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

This simple, powerful exchange between mother and daughter is a reminder that when we raise our children with love, acceptance, and truthful language, they often surprise us with wisdom well beyond their years.