Days ago I published here the fashion shifts women make to feel more comfortable or to challenge the aesthetic pressures of the beauty industry. Several messages argued that Queen Letizia Ortiz isn’t a model to follow because she has removed her high heels only due to illness. And some, sometimes with insults, pointed to her cosmetic procedures. This is not about vilifying a person but about how fashion choices under scrutiny can reveal deeper questions about health, autonomy, and fashion’s place in public life.
What some see as an example, others may not, and that difference often depends on the moment in a person’s life. The monarchy has long been an institution with strict internal norms for women. Yet, given health challenges, it’s hard to imagine that a queen would have chosen sporty footwear years ago if faced with the same situation. It’s also unlikely that Queen Sofia would have made the same choice decades back. Ortiz, even in ceremonial parades, steps out in sneakers; perhaps in such tightly regulated contexts, the emphasis on health—even temporarily—takes priority over protocol.
Still, from our modest social profiles and private lives, it’s hard to truly grasp what it feels like to live under the external pressure of millions of eyes around the world. I recall being on a program watched by six million people. The commentary often fixated on my body, striking at my self-esteem, even though my beliefs were firmly feminist. It makes little sense to preach mental health while insisting that we shouldn’t critique our bodies, and then turn around and attack women who choose cosmetic procedures. I’d rather debate ideas and the industry’s manufactured needs than police personal appearances. Some women may never react to what we reveal, while others might evolve over time. But I don’t enjoy tearing down small wins by those who are at different stages of their feminism. Just because others look down on me doesn’t mean I will respond in kind.
When I read comments about heels and the idea of avoiding dresses altogether, I wonder if people know the connection between fashion and feminist icon Gloria Steinem. She wore heels of varying heights at events, sometimes wore boots with a subtle heel, selected dresses, miniskirts, or even sheer fabrics. And yet she also wore flat shoes and jeans. Dozens of articles analyze Steinem’s style, and at this point, it would be disingenuous to deny her influential feminist career.
If I had to choose, despite all caveats, I would back an institution that can support or question, one that uses its platform to address gender violence and call out human trafficking. I fully support freeing individuals and reclaiming comfortable fashion. And I condemn the violence inflicted on our bodies by the beauty industry, but I will not turn this into a style dogma or an attack on women who “violate” it. Perfection is not the goal for everyone. Some may ally more with our rights while others choose athleisure and sneakers, yet they still oppose gender violence and vote against it.