FacebookRachel Taylor is taking a personal stand against fat-shaming.
The brunette woman is making headlines today after her recent Facebook post went viral, in which she recounts her experience while shopping at Old Navy and shares a disappointing conversation she overheard between a mother and daughter.
"This whole experience has been unexpected and insane! I've received thousands of messages and comments from men and women who struggle with their self-image," Taylor tells E! News in a statement.
But, first, let's backtrack. Here's what happened:
"The girl picked up a plus-size tank top, showed it to her mom and said, 'Look! Me and So-and-so can fit in this tank top!'" Taylor recalled in her post. "Her mom laughed and said, 'Yeah, you could! That thing is huge!'"
While the comment was not directed towards Taylor, she admitted, "I couldn't help it; I started crying," adding, "I guess the girl and her mom walked away."
Taylor says her husband then walked her out of the store back to their car, where she sat "crying for a long time" before she went back inside to finish shopping.
"I ended up buying that tank top because, it turns out, I look fierce in it!" Taylor wrote, sharing a dressing room selfie. "Be kind. Think about others before you speak. And if someone hurts you, you have to move on."
She later edited her post to include a shout-out to Old Navy, thanking the store for carrying a wide variety of clothing.
"Old Navy, thank you for having adorable clothes for all shapes & sizes," she wrote.
In spite of the positive feedback, Taylor tells E! News, "Unfortunately, I've also received comments ranging from calling me a 'crybaby fatty' to discussing how many shots from a large caliber weapon it would take to 'put down these fierce fatties.'"
Still, she hopes that her message will help others with their self-esteem. "I don't understand how this is acceptable behavior in our society. No matter what their shape or size or how they got there, every man and woman should feel confident in their own skin. Body diversity isn't about promoting unhealthy lifestyles; it's about loving yourself and others. I hope that by sharing my struggle, I can help promote a society that encourages kindness and positivity instead of judgment."
—Reporting by Holly Passalaqua
What do you think of Taylor's post? Tell us in the comments.