The Bachelor’s Bella Varelis breaks down after being body shamed – and admits she’s ‘dealt with depression, anxiety and eating disorders’
The Bachelor runner-up Bella Varelis has broken down in tears after being body-shamed by a cruel troll on Instagram.
On Thursday, the 25-year-old called out the online bully and also confessed she ‘used to deal with’ depression, anxiety and eating disorders in the past.
The troll had left the shocking comment after Bella posted a bikini photo, writing: ‘Your bottom half is so strange and you got no t*ts what are you so proud of.’
Candid: Bachelor star Bella Varelis, 25, has broken down as she confessed she’s had to ‘personally deal with depression, anxiety and eating disorders’ in reply to a body-shaming troll
The troll continued to taunt Bella by saying she had ‘no hips’ either.
Bella immediately called out the online abuse and said the comment was the reason by so many women and men struggle with body image.
‘It disgusts me that this person thinks it’s okay to even comment negatively on another human’s appearance,’ she wrote.
Passionate: ‘It disgusts me that this person thinks it’s ok to even comment negatively on another human’s appearance,’ she wrote, in-part. Telling the follower to ‘check yourself’
‘Issues with body image can lead to eating disorders, depression and anxiety which is something I used to deal with personally and I do not take this lightly,’ she added.
‘Although I wish it didn’t affect me, I am still human. Check yourself.’
Bella was immediately inundated with messages of support from her more than 100,000 followers.
Public: ‘Issues with body image can lead to eating disorders, depression and anxiety which is something I used to deal with personally and I do not take this lightly,’ Bella wrote
She was so touched by the outpouring of kindness that she broke down in tears
‘Guys, I’m getting some many nice messages and I wish I could reply to them all but every single one doesn’t go unnoticed,’ she said.
‘I didn’t even expect this. I just wanted to call that person out on their bulls**t because I am so sick of body-shaming and online bullying.’
Body image: Bella shared a bikini shot promoting Australian brand Ziah, before the brave admission
She went on to thank her ‘strong female following’ for being as passionate about body positivity as her.
The Bondi influencer rose to fame on Locky Gilbert’s season of The Bachelor, where she placed runner-up behind Irena Srbinovska.
The reality star has maintained a high profile since then, and has even admitted she’s interested in becoming the next Bachelorette.
Admission: Bella is known for keeping private about her personal struggles. The Bondi influencer rose to fame on Locky Gilbert’s season of The Bachelor
The day after the Bachelor finale aired in September, she told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Yeah, I mean, what a way to get your happily ever after!’
Bella was dumped by Locky during the show’s finale in one of the most brutal Bachelor break-ups ever.
She didn’t see it coming at all, as he’d previously said he was falling in love with her – although he’d also said the same thing to his eventual winner, Irena.
Stardom: Bella was the runner-up on Locky Gilbert’s season of The Bachelor this year