“After Enduring Years of Body Shaming, Simone Biles Embraces Her True Self — A 10-Photo Transformation Story”
Simone Biles is widely known as the most decorated American gymnast in history — a symbol of strength, grace, and resilience. But behind the medals and applause lies a long, often painful journey filled with public criticism, body shaming, and intense pressure to fit unrealistic beauty standards. From a young age, Biles had to confront not just the physical challenges of elite gymnastics, but also the emotional toll of cruel remarks. At just 16, during a meet in 2013, she made a mistake mid-routine. Instead of receiving encouragement, she was met with a harsh comment from a coach: “You’re too fat.”
That moment left a lasting impact. “It was very sad,” Biles later told NBC Sports. “I was a petite young girl, and to hear that at such a young age shocked me.” But rather than letting the comment defeat her, she used it as motivation. “Everything happens for a reason,” she reflected. “That had to happen for me to be where I am today.” As Biles rose to Olympic stardom, the scrutiny only intensified. People criticized everything from her hair and legs to her muscular build. Even young fans asked if she had experienced mean comments. “They focused on my hair. They focused on how big my legs were,” Biles admitted. Still, she remained proud of her body and its power: “God made me this way,” she said. “If I didn’t have these legs or these calves, I wouldn’t be able to tumble the way I do or have moves named after me.”
Her message of self-love has become a core part of her public voice. “Everyone has a body, and they’re blessed with it,” she once said. “You have to be confident in whatever God gave you — that’s who you are.” Biles has also opened up about beauty expectations in sports. In a 2024 Harper’s Bazaar interview, she discussed how athletes don’t always fit traditional beauty ideals — nor should they have to. “When you train six to ten hours a day, you’re not thinking about makeup. Beauty comes from within,” she said. She praised celebrities like Alicia Keys who embrace natural beauty and emphasized that it’s a personal choice.
Still, like many young women, Biles has tried beauty treatments herself. In 2017, she proudly showed off her freshly microbladed brows on Instagram. But not all experiments went smoothly — in a light-hearted TikTok video, she revealed she once got “baby Botox” for her 27th birthday and didn’t love the results. “One eyebrow kept going up and wouldn’t come down,” she laughed. “So… not doing that again!”
In July 2025, social media exploded when Biles posted vacation photos from Belize with her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens. Fans quickly noticed her chest appeared fuller — and rumors of a breast augmentation began to circulate. Several cosmetic surgeons weighed in online, suggesting she likely had silicone implants, possibly signaling a shift away from competitive gymnastics. “I don’t think she would take that risk if she were still competing,” one surgeon speculated. Fan reactions were mixed. Some praised her confidence and new look, while others expressed concern about what it meant for her athletic career. Many believed it confirmed what they had suspected: that Simone Biles had officially retired.
Just weeks later, Biles made a public appearance at the 2025 U.S. Classic near Chicago — but not as a competitor. Instead, she sat in the stands, smiling and relaxed. “I’m so happy I was in the crowd and not competing,” she told Olympics.com. “It takes a mental and physical toll.” When asked if she missed it, she replied honestly, “It’s only been a year. I don’t wake up every day thinking, ‘I wish I could flip.’ I flipped for 22 years. Being right side up is kind of nice.”
Despite the harsh words, the rumors, and the relentless public gaze, Simone Biles has remained true to herself. Her story is not just about athletic excellence, but about choosing self-respect over public approval. Through faith, humor, and fierce self-belief, she continues to inspire — proving that even the strongest are vulnerable, and that confidence isn’t about perfection, but about self-acceptance.
Simone Biles is widely known as the most decorated American gymnast in history — a symbol of strength, grace, and resilience. But behind the medals and applause lies a long, often painful journey filled with public criticism, body shaming, and intense pressure to fit unrealistic beauty standards. From a young age, Biles had to confront not just the physical challenges of elite gymnastics, but also the emotional toll of cruel remarks. At just 16, during a meet in 2013, she made a mistake mid-routine. Instead of receiving encouragement, she was met with a harsh comment from a coach: “You’re too fat.”
That moment left a lasting impact. “It was very sad,” Biles later told NBC Sports. “I was a petite young girl, and to hear that at such a young age shocked me.” But rather than letting the comment defeat her, she used it as motivation. “Everything happens for a reason,” she reflected. “That had to happen for me to be where I am today.” As Biles rose to Olympic stardom, the scrutiny only intensified. People criticized everything from her hair and legs to her muscular build. Even young fans asked if she had experienced mean comments. “They focused on my hair. They focused on how big my legs were,” Biles admitted. Still, she remained proud of her body and its power: “God made me this way,” she said. “If I didn’t have these legs or these calves, I wouldn’t be able to tumble the way I do or have moves named after me.”
Her message of self-love has become a core part of her public voice. “Everyone has a body, and they’re blessed with it,” she once said. “You have to be confident in whatever God gave you — that’s who you are.” Biles has also opened up about beauty expectations in sports. In a 2024 Harper’s Bazaar interview, she discussed how athletes don’t always fit traditional beauty ideals — nor should they have to. “When you train six to ten hours a day, you’re not thinking about makeup. Beauty comes from within,” she said. She praised celebrities like Alicia Keys who embrace natural beauty and emphasized that it’s a personal choice.
Still, like many young women, Biles has tried beauty treatments herself. In 2017, she proudly showed off her freshly microbladed brows on Instagram. But not all experiments went smoothly — in a light-hearted TikTok video, she revealed she once got “baby Botox” for her 27th birthday and didn’t love the results. “One eyebrow kept going up and wouldn’t come down,” she laughed. “So… not doing that again!”
In July 2025, social media exploded when Biles posted vacation photos from Belize with her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens. Fans quickly noticed her chest appeared fuller — and rumors of a breast augmentation began to circulate. Several cosmetic surgeons weighed in online, suggesting she likely had silicone implants, possibly signaling a shift away from competitive gymnastics. “I don’t think she would take that risk if she were still competing,” one surgeon speculated. Fan reactions were mixed. Some praised her confidence and new look, while others expressed concern about what it meant for her athletic career. Many believed it confirmed what they had suspected: that Simone Biles had officially retired.
Just weeks later, Biles made a public appearance at the 2025 U.S. Classic near Chicago — but not as a competitor. Instead, she sat in the stands, smiling and relaxed. “I’m so happy I was in the crowd and not competing,” she told Olympics.com. “It takes a mental and physical toll.” When asked if she missed it, she replied honestly, “It’s only been a year. I don’t wake up every day thinking, ‘I wish I could flip.’ I flipped for 22 years. Being right side up is kind of nice.”
Despite the harsh words, the rumors, and the relentless public gaze, Simone Biles has remained true to herself. Her story is not just about athletic excellence, but about choosing self-respect over public approval. Through faith, humor, and fierce self-belief, she continues to inspire — proving that even the strongest are vulnerable, and that confidence isn’t about perfection, but about self-acceptance.
