Melissa Gibson is a body positive activist who uses Instagram to advocate for body acceptance and diversity. But no matter how much positivity she puts out there, it doesn't deter the trolls from bullying her.
Over the years, Gibson has been subjected to hundreds of comments criticizing her appearance. While she doesn't respond to the haters very often, she was forced to do so recently after a slew of body-shamers commented under her New Year's Eve post featuring her boyfriend, Jonathan.
Gibson posted a full body photo of herself alongside her boyfriend, and captioned it with, "Only we can f**k it up. Only we can make it amazing, Ours is the kind of love that feels right because we are both present, honest, and excited. The kind of love that flows from two people in love with life. Two people who appreciate the moment and the journey. 2017 brought you into my life, and we face 2018 together. Wouldn't want to do it with anyone else. Love you Johnathan â¤ï¸."
However, there were some people who were distracted from the couple's love for each other because of some vain reasons and decided to rain on their parade.
Some users on Instagram took issue with the difference in size between Gibson and her boyfriend. Some went as far as saying that she doesn't "deserve" him, and they're together because he "must have a fetish."
It's bothersome to see that despite the fact that the couple seem happy and in love, people are still concerned about the way they look standing beside each other.
It took a few days for Gibson to get back online, but when she did, she wrote a very powerful note that she shared with her Instagram followers.
"When taking a picture in a sparkly dress next to the man you love makes people comment about your body, question your relationship, make judgements about him for loving you," Gibson wrote in the caption of her post. "Our relationship is political. Even though we both know how natural and right it feels. And if the world won't just let us be, we will keep fighting for our love, for our space, for our right to be seen, accepted without question, and celebrated."
Gibson then reassured people that although she and Johnathan may look "mis-matched," they "are exactly what each other wants."
She continued, "In all honesty it's silly to think it bothers people so much, but when privileged people base their value on attraction and relationships, it results in the plethora of relationships that look like mine being erased and delegitimized. Like somehow I don't deserve him or our love isn't real. We are exactly what each other wants, and guess what, our bodies are a part of that. It's not a abnormal or a fetish. It's simply natural."
Gibson concluded her response by informing her critics that she is no longer "playing by your rules."
"So while you insist on yelling your insecurities and bigotry at me, realize I'm not playing the game you play any longer, " she wrote. "I'm not playing by your rules. And it's honestly sad you still are. 2018 is the year for Love that is not defined by weight, age, ability, genitals, gender, sexuality. Not defined by race or ethnicity or religion. We're having more fun this way anyway ;)."
It's really great to see Gibson not let other's opinion of her appearance define who she is or her worth and confidently stand up to the online trolls.
