A photographer is getting a lot of attention after a photo she snapped in a dressing room went viral.
Rachel Taylor says she was shopping at Old Navy when she overheard a hurtful conversation about plus-size clothing.
“I was shopping in Old Navy, standing in between a teenage girl and her mom. The girl picked up a plus-size tank top, showed it to her mom and said, ‘Look! Me and So-and-so can fit in this tank top!’ Her mom laughed and said, ‘Yeah, you could! That thing is huge!” Taylor posted on Facebook.
Taylor says she was hurt by the comments and began to cry. She says she sat in the car and cried for a long time before eventually going back inside to shop.
In the end, she decided to try on the tank top in question.
“I ended up buying that tank top because, it turns out, I look fierce in it! Be kind. Think about others before you speak. And if someone hurts you, you have to move on.”
Taylor posted her selfie to Old Navy’s Facebook page. It has been liked over 86,000 times and shared 2,400 times.
Old Navy responded to the post, saying, “Rachel, you are amazing. We want to celebrate your fierce style by sending you a gift card.”
In response to people criticizing her appearance, Rachel said:
“First, thank you so much for all the kind words and for sharing your stories in turn. I never, ever, ever imagined that more than a few people would see this picture (I never see anything posted to Old Navy’s timeline) but I appreciate the sweet comments all the same.
However, posting a photo on social media is NOT an invitation to criticize, ridicule, or judge someone. Calling me a crybaby, telling me to save my shopping money for therapy, telling me to “do something” about my weight… what does that accomplish other than making yourself look like a fool? Sitting behind a keyboard commenting on someone else’s life doesn’t make you superior; it makes you a troll. Also, I don’t want any handouts from anyone, nor would I accept it. There are far too many people who need clothes, and I can buy my own.
I could tell you more about the tone of the ladies’ conversation, about our positions in the store, about my health and self-esteem issues, but I shouldn’t have to.
Obviously I didn’t handle the situation well, but I worked through it and I’m a better and braver person because of it. I wanted to share my story with Old Navy because I love my new top and appreciate them having cute clothes in all sizes. Now I’m refusing to delete it because people should know that they are not alone in their struggles, and even if they seem silly to someone else, their feelings are still valid. As my Mama always says, “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.”
