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“Judged a Certain Way”: Simone Biles’ Best friend Breaks Her Silence on the Reality of ‘Beauty Norms’ in Gymnastics

Published 07/20/2023, 1:15 PM EDT

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In the world of athletics, many claim that beauty is thought to exclusively belong on the outside. The exaggerated “fit” image of women frequently interferes with finding balance as a sportsperson. Now, this is a problem that affects many individuals, and many sportswomen have talked about it using their influence. The iconic gymnast Simone Biles often addresses the stereotypes that prevent women of color from expressing their true, pure splendor.

Biles’ fans can attest to the exceptional woman she is in every manner. As seen by her actions, she doesn’t hesitate to stand up for herself and even speak for the community on public platforms. On the same note, one of her closest friends and ace gymnast Jordan Chiles also joined her in the club after being motivated by her journey to encourage others.

Simone Biles’ best friend breaks beauty driven stereotypes

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The American Olympian, World Champion, and NCAA gymnast, Jordan Chiles debunked the beauty stereotypes that are still prevailing in the sporting realm. The young gymnast sat among the group of elite personalities at the Variety + Sportico Sports & Entertainment Summit on 13 July and talked about several nooks and crannies of the subject.

The speech given by Chiles was posted by @sportico on Instagram, which highlighted her sheer confidence as she spoke about embracing her individuality and the beauty stigma that envelopes female athletes.

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A week ago, the 22-year-old panelist talked about embracing one’s identity. She also stated how difficult it is to be an African-American because of how they are perceived differently and thus “judged a certain way.” Furthermore, Chiles shared a personal story of how her hair was judged, leading her to believe that everyone should be free to be who they want to be. She thinks that making an effort to stand out helps.

 

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Chiles certainly stood out with her clear speech. The event’s featured speakers also included Mark Silverman of Fox Sports and Rosalyn Durant of ESPN, in addition to the multi-talented NBA All-Stars Russell Westbrook and Blake Gryphon. The cross-industry experience has put the gymnast on the list of emerging talents of the nation that now lead as a representative. Chiles is stepping onto the similar stones as Biles when it comes to raising voice to bring the change.

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Gymnastics legend and her voice for initiatives

The GOAT of her sport, Biles once opened up about her struggle to come to terms with her body image in school. Later, she also shared the times when she was bullied for having large muscles. In 2020, on the International Women’s Day, Biles shared her stance on beauty standards.

Biles spoke about the pressure to meet beauty standards in gymnastics and how she came to appreciate herself. She also discussed her encounters with body shaming and how she had had enough of striving to meet unrealistic beauty standards.

From that point on, Biles has advocated for promoting a positive self-image and dispelling unrealistic beauty standards. She also practices healthy habits that have a positive impact on one’s heart, mind, and soul. Her advocacy is realistic, as evidenced by the fact that she attended school events at the height of her career and withdrew from the largest sports event—the 2021 Olympics—to take time off for mental health.

Watch this story Following Husband Jonathan Owens’s Big NFL Move in Future, Simone Biles Makes a Huge Statement on Her Future 

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Written by:

Divya Purohit

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Divya Purohit is a sports writer at EssentiallySports specializing her coverage in American sporting events. She recently found US Sports writing to be a niche that she enjoys and began following sports. Divya enjoys researching and creating various pieces of articles.
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Edited by:

Purva Jain