On the newest episode of Big Brother Mzansi, Palesa and Yolanda had a heated argument about fat shaming among women.
Palesa and Yolanda quarrel over some steak
The fight started over a steak that Palesa did not get a share of but quickly evolved into a verbal brawl with harsh remarks.
Palesa started the conversation by accusing Yolanda of acting juvenile despite being the oldest in the house. Yolanda responded immediately, saying that age didn’t mean maturity and that she looked better despite being older.
Palesa unleashes cruel insults
When Palesa called Yolanda a “cow.” regarding her appearance, the conversation soured. This disparaging phrase targeted Yolanda’s Vitiligo, which causes skin patches to lose pigment. Unabated, Yolanda suggested Palesa “fix her face” with makeup, fueling their argument.
The Dirty Truth About Body Shaming
As both ladies attacked each other’s appearances to win, the heated argument revealed the terrible realities of body shaming. Palesa’s use of “cow” targeted Yolanda’s skin condition and also perpetuated harmful beauty standards that prioritize a narrow definition of beauty.
South Africans weigh in on the incident
As tensions rose, viewers saw the harm of body shaming in a reality show.
Many viewers were on Yolanda’s side gaining her more support. Many viewers took to social media to let her and fellow South Africans know that she is beautiful.
After the dust settles, this encounter will be remembered as a forceful reminder of the need to fight body shaming and promote acceptance and inclusivity in society, especially reality TV.
This exchange and the following comments on social media highlight to me how normalized it is for us to resort to insulting someone’s appearance, especially immutable we deem undesirable, as a way to win an argument.
It’s heartbreaking to see people thinking they are coming to Yolanda s defense by fat-shaming Palesa. Thanks for bringing the relevant topics to attention on this Trecia.