A MUM was left stunned after claiming she was body shamed while getting a Santa photo taken with her young daughter.
Mini Westwood from Brisbane, Australia, had been excited to take her seven-year-old daughter April to meet Santa and get a beautiful photo memory.
Mini Westwood was shocked after claiming to be body shamed while getting a festive photo[/caption]
The mum said a photographer had left her “feeling rubbish” with a hurtful comment[/caption]
But she says the day took a terrible turn right after the pair sat down for the commemorative Christmas snap.
Mini told A Current Affair: “The photographer turned around and says quite loudly, “Mum, suck your gut in”, and just motioned for me to suck my gut in.
“I felt good at the beginning. I left feeling rubbish.”
Mini says she has battled with anorexia since she was a child and froze in shock at the hurtful comments.
And she says the Santa impersonator also recoiled in disgust and shot a look at the photographer.
The mum added: “Santa looked at me and kind of looked back at the photographer and shook his head, like ‘you shouldn’t say that especially while their child is here’.”
Mini said her daughter was also upset by the comment – having been able to tell that it made her mother uncomfortable.
The young mum had been wearing jeans and a crop top – an outfit her daughter had chosen.
And she said that April kept asking her what the phrase meant before eventually Googling it on her iPad.
“Mum, suck it in means that you’re fat,” April told her mother.
Mini said she explained to her daughter that it is “something someone says to you when they’re not happy with themselves and they want to make you feel bad”.
She contacted the company responsible for the Santa photographs, Scene to Believe and reportedly received a grovelling apology.
Mini said she discovered that the company already partners with the Butterfly Foundation, a non-profit that – raises awareness of eating disorders.
And she hopes by speaking out about the ordeal others will be more cautious with their words.
She said: “Don’t do it again, do not make anybody ever feel the way you made me feel.”
Scene To Believe said it was disappointed by the “unfortunate experience at one of our Santa sets”.
“Core to our values is bringing an inclusive, supportive and magical experience to all families that visit Santa during the festive season.
“Scene To Believe is a proud partner of the Butterfly Foundation, having seen the challenges and detrimental impacts that an eating disorder has on both a child and family.”
They added: “These types of partnerships enable us to raise awareness with the thousands of families that visit our Santa sets during the festive season.
“They also give us the tools to better educate and upskill our 2,000 strong seasonal workforces to learn strategies that enhance inclusion and communication when visiting Santa and create magical memories in a safe environment.”
Mini was left stunned by the shocking incident[/caption]