Daisy Ridley is a tiny little thing. I suspect she’s just a very petite young woman naturally. I honestly didn’t think too much about her size while I was watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens, mostly because JJ Abrams created a capable, intelligent, emotionally strong and physically strong character with Rey. She’s capable in combat, and she’s capable intellectually (likely because the Force is strong with her). Rey is, I hope, a wonderful role model for little girls. But someone didn’t think Daisy is a role model because, and I sh-t you not, “real women have curves.” Ugh, I thought we were done with this conversation years ago.

Daisy Ridley is standing up for all women of all shapes and sizes. The Star Wars: Force Awakens actress found herself the victim of a recent body-shaming attack in which an Instagram user said she “set unrealistic expectations” for young girls because “real women have curves.” However, Ridley was quick to inform the user that, in fact, all women are “real” women.

“‘Real women’ are all shapes and sizes, all ethnicities, all levels of brave. I am a ‘real woman’ like every other woman in this world. What’s weird is most of the time I see such gorgeous messages from people around the world,” she began. “People who relate to something in Rey they haven’t found in a female character before…It is much more hurtful to continue to slate other women than BE a woman, BE a character, BE whoever you want to be.”

She added, “I’m a normal girl thrust into extraordinary circumstances, just like Rey. I will not apologise for how I look, what I say and how I live my life cause what’s happening inside is much more important anyway and I am striving to be the best version of myself, even if I stumble along the way.”

Thus, she has a bit of advice for not only those who have a problem with the way she looks, but who have a problem with anyone else in life: “Remember that expression, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Kindness isn’t going to cure the world of all its awfulness but it’s a good place to begin.”

[From E! News]

Daisy ended up deleting her original Instagram, which called out the Instagram critic specifically, and then Daisy replaced it with the Instagram below. As for Daisy’s reaction… she’s perfect. She handled that really well. If you have to react to an online critic, this is a good way to do it. Why can’t people understand: some women have curves and some women don’t. Some women are petite, some are tall, some are big-busted and some are narrow-hipped. And they’re all Real Women.

Guys it was not my intention for anyone to send messages to that poor person that posted the original picture. My whole post is about being kind to each other, so please refrain!

A photo posted by @daisyridley on Mar 9, 2016 at 1:13pm PST

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.