Stop right there—because that headline is meant to hijack your reaction. “Rachel Riley shows off jaw-dropping huge size” sounds shocking by design. It’s bait. And if you stay with me for a moment, you’ll see what most people miss: these viral body headlines aren’t really about her at all—they’re about how the internet behaves.
Every time a well-known woman is photographed doing something completely normal—going on holiday, stepping outside, wearing fitted clothes, or simply standing at an unlucky angle—the internet rushes to label her body like it’s breaking news. Words like huge, shocking, and jaw-dropping aren’t neutral; they’re chosen to provoke emotion and drive clicks. Photos don’t need to be fake to be misleading—angles, lighting, lenses, and timing can change everything. Yet online, people act as if women are required to look one exact way forever. That’s not reality, and it’s not fair. What’s worse is how quickly judgment replaces empathy. Strangers don’t know what someone is dealing with—stress, health, life changes—but they still feel entitled to comment. Size becomes a weapon, as if it’s the worst thing a person can be.
