On Sunday, Kim Kardashian took to her social platforms to make an announcement about her Skims shapewear line.
What you’ve been waiting for: @SKIMS Maternity is coming soon! Introducing Maternity Solutionwear™ that offers the best in comfort & support for your changing body during & after pregnancy. Launching on Wednesday, September 16 at 9AM PT / 12PM ET in 9 colors & in sizes XXS – 5X pic.twitter.com/PfyqMEW3cI
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) September 12, 2020
Not long after the announcement, people quickly took to Twitter with lots of opinions about the new SKIMS line. People accused Kim of promoting body image issues in pregnant women. Some people shared their concerns, with one Twitter user asking “Kimmie, why would a woman care if her body is snatched or not during pregnancy??”
Kimmie, why would a woman care if her body is snatched or not during pregnancy??
— Kimberly K. (K.K.W.) (@GingerhairGrnEy) September 13, 2020
Defending herself, Kim explained on her social media platforms that the items are not meant to compress or minimize baby bumps, but provide support. “The belly part doesn’t slim your belly, it’s actually sheer and a thinner layered material compared to the rest of the garment. It provides support to help with the uncomfortable weight being carried in your stomach which affects your lower back – and the compression on the leggings help with pain relief caused by swelling.”
“We launched this category in response to the tens of thousands of pregnant women who wrote us requesting it and because it was something I personally needed when I was pregnant myself,” she said, concluding, “Based on the majority of positive feedback we have received so far from pregnant women around the world, I am incredibly proud to provide a solution that will provide comfort and support during the times that we all need it most, during pregnancy and after.”
To anyone who has an issue with maternity solutionwear, and if you haven’t been pregnant before you may not know the struggle of what it’s like carrying all of this weight the way I did along with millions of strong women, @skims maternity line is not to slim but to support.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) September 13, 2020
Coming to Kim Kardashian’s defense, Chrissy Teigen slipped into a shapewear set and cheekily began a series of videos by saying, “Hi guys, an actual pregnant person here! Just wanting to show you and maybe talk a little bit about what pregnancy shapewear is. Basically, the reason I love pregnancy shapewear is that it stops all the folds of my vagina and stomach from eating all other times of underwear. When you’re pregnant and you’re sitting down a lot, or on bed rest like me, you tend to just sit there, and if you’re wearing regular, basic a** underwear, all it does is roll inside of folds, I didn’t even know I had. It rolls up in there and doesn’t even look like I have underwear on. Most importantly this is not about creating a body we don’t know we have. Like, we’re not trying to do anything to trick you, we’re pregnant.”