A body positive influencer has proudly hit back at trolls after receiving insulting comments online.
Tova Leigh regularly shares her thoughts on life, relationships and boundaries with her more than 414,000 social media followers.
The author, comedian and content creator recently shared a number of comments trolls had made on her pages – as she slammed their cowardly attacks.
The comments thrown at Tova included “damn you ugly as f” and “you can’t even turn old h into housewives”.
Another read: “So ugly woman”.
One added: “Yep the w**** that was hiding all this time has just been released.”
Another person had written: “Ugly, fat old cow”.
Tova, who is based in London, took to social media to call out her disgusting critics.
She said: “I’m sharing a few of the comments I’ve received recently on some of my content.
“Some was about women’s desires, some about women’s rights.
“It never stops fascinating me how some men react when women talk about how we feel.
“About OUR experience in the world.
“Not all men, of course – many listen, reflect, and even learn.
“But some don’t. Some lash out.
“Over the years, I’ve noticed that insults are often used as a weapon.
“Words like ‘ugly’ or ‘s**t’ etc are thrown around as if they’re meant to silence us.
“As if shouting them loudly enough will make us shrink, stop speaking, stop taking up space.
“But the truth is, it has the opposite effect on me.
“I’m not scared – I never have been.
“Not of their anger, not of their discomfort, not of the insecurities they project.
“I’m not offended, and I don’t measure myself by their approval.
“If anything, it reminds me why these conversations matter.
“Why women’s voices matter – and why it’s so important to keep speaking, not just for ourselves, but as a reminder to other women that we are not alone, not imagining it, and not too much.
“And most importantly, that we don’t need to shrink, or apologise for being exactly who we are.”
Tova’s post gained more than 3,000 likes and over 300 comments.
People were quick to rush to the comments section to share their support with Tova.
Kat wrote: “As always, you’re gorgeous and they are hurt little man children.”
A different person said: “You’re a QUEEN! In every way! Thank you for speaking out. You’re an inspiration and you help me inspire my friends to love themselves also.”
Federica wrote: “To me you are beautiful! And more than this, your soul is beautiful! Poor small people [are] not able to see it.”
Ulla said: “You are beautiful and my favorite. Those comments are so mean and unhinged to a cliché level. Off with them. Love you.”
Sanjay wrote: “Always the same type of man! Keep that light shining!”
Another said: “Wow none of these responses are rational but they are cruel. Sad, because you’re beautiful.”
Natasha added: “Honestly I’m so sorry, this is abusive language and adult bullying. It’s the entitlement that really bothers me… centuries of being [allowed] to treat people like this and get away with it.”
This isn’t the first time Tova has highlighted trolls’ nasty jibes – and she even includes their name and a screenshot of the comments she’s referring to.
In one post, she added: “I want to be clear: your words did not hurt me.
“They didn’t hurt me because I don’t know you, and your opinion of me holds no weight in my life.
“They didn’t hurt me because I genuinely like who I am and the body I live in.
“And they didn’t hurt me because I’ve learned that cruelty rarely comes from strength – it usually reveals something unresolved within the person offering it.”
Instead, Tova said the comments often remind her of why she speaks so openly about issues affecting women.
She said: “I am a mother of girls.
“And I never want my daughters to believe that a man’s opinion of their bodies, their age, or the way they choose to live should make them smaller – physically, emotionally, or otherwise.
“I never want them to shrink themselves to make others more comfortable.
“So instead of hiding, I stand here – visible, unapologetic – celebrating the woman I am, in the body I have.
“And in doing so, I hope my daughters, your granddaughter, and any woman who has ever been told to take up less space hears this clearly: No. Simply no.”
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