Due to her 5-foot stature, the 22-year-old athlete came under fire. Following her October participation at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Olympic champion Suni Lee has once again responded directly to online criticism. The 22-year-old gymnast made her big modeling debut in October when she walked the runway sporting a whimsical Victoria’s Secret Pink ensemble. She soon encountered criticism from users who claimed that due of her height, she didn’t resemble a “real model.” While attending the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City, Lee recently addressed the internet vitriol once more, despite the gymnast’s first response on social media.
She told PEOPLE, “A lot of people were mad because I’m not tall and skinny or wasn’t considered a real model.” “In the end, I was present while they weren’t. I was truly delighted to be there, and I would not allow anyone to take that away from me. Following the performance, Lee shared a humorous TikTok including Ariana Grande’s Successful. For the second Victoria’s Secret show since the company’s 2019 rebranding, the gymnast—who became the first Hmong-American to win Olympic gold—joined a number of new faces. Earlier this year, she was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, where she talked about her continued health issues, resilience, and body image.
Lee, who has been battling an incurable kidney disease, remarked, “This is the first time I’ve really taken a break from gymnastics.” “It’s been really new, but it’s also one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
