The INSIDER Summary:
- The new Adidas ad campaign features a model with unshaven legs.
- The model, Arvida Byström, has been receiving overwhelmingly negative comments regarding her leg hair.
- Byström responded to the negativity on her Instagram, and said that she's even received rape threats.
- Thankfully, she's also received messages of positivity and support.
Thanks to celebrities like Paris Jackson and Bella Thorne proudly displaying their leg and armpit hair on Instagram, it seems like the body-positive movement is finally embracing body hair as well.
Adidas is now joining the movement in its latest "Superstar" campaign. In one of the photos, which we first saw on Hello Giggles, 26-year-old Swedish model Arvida Byström is seen wearing a pair of the brand's shoes with unshaven legs.
Instead of receiving support for challenging the often unfair beauty standards placed upon women, Byström is facing negative reactions for the hair on her legs.
I want to vomit 🤢
— Klub Polo (@klub_polo) September 22, 2017
Just disgusting pic.twitter.com/x4QImqXSLc
— Rainair Vingclaire (@ScH_Lamp3) September 21, 2017
Too hairyyy.....😂😂😂😂😂
— Vos (@Vos92477035) September 22, 2017The model took to Instagram to respond to the negativity surrounding the photo.
In her caption, Byström revealed that she had noticed many of the negative comments and even received rape threats in her private messages — all because of one "nonconforming" aspect of her appearance. She also acknowledged the privilege the rest of her appearance gives her and how difficult it must be to take risks without that privilege.
"I can't even begin to imagine what it's like to not posses [sic] all these privileges and try to exist in the world," she wrote. "Sending love and try to remember that not everybody has the same experiences being a person."
Fortunately, the model has also received messages of support for making a statement and owning her natural body hair.
You guys hiring Arvida is seriously amazing!! Adidas is so innovative and progressive it's insane how much I respect u guys after this 😊
— Rudy Vasquez (@rudycv1994) September 20, 2017
Great AD adidas! Women need strong statement 4 their freedom. I have never tought a pair of shoes could be a freedom ambassador 👍 #Superstar
— REALity (@OpenUrART) October 1, 2017INSIDER has contacted a representative for Arvida Byström for comment.
Here's the full caption of Arvida Byström's Instagram post:
"My photo from the @adidasoriginals superstar campaign got a lot of nasty comments last week. Me being such an abled, white, cis body with its only nonconforming feature being a lil [sic] leg hair. Literally I've been getting rape threats in my DM inbox. I can't even begin to imagine what it's like to not posses [sic] all these privileges and try to exist in the world. Sending love and try to remember that not everybody has the same experiences being a person 🌎 Also thanks for all the love 🌹got a lot of that too ❤️❤️❤️❤️ "
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