Paige Spiranac is hitting back at those who criticize the way she dresses — and wants her fans to take pride in the way they look as well.
“I just try to embrace who I am when I talk about that,” Spiranac, 32, told PEOPLE at the Happy Gilmore 2 premiere on Monday, July 21. “My main message is always do what you want to do, wear what you want to wear. And for me, that’s wearing things that are a little bit more sexy, more form-fitting, but also just finding your own individual style.”
Spiranac, a former professional golfer-turned-model and golf influencer, began her athletic career as a gymnast, but said that when she turned pro, she “was always forced to wear something that didn’t feel comfortable.”
“And so I started wearing tank tops and leggings and it just caused such an uproar of just people upset about no collar, and what I was wearing, and disrespecting the game, and also just exposing my body,” she said.
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Paige Spiranac
She continued, “And I’m like, I’m an athlete and I like what I wear. I feel very comfortable with what I wear. And also I don’t want young girls to grow up feeling insecure about their body or everyone telling them, no, they should cover up. They should be proud of their body, especially with how much hard work they put into it when they’re eating right and working out.”
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In April, the California native clapped back at online trolls who questioned an online post in which she wore very short bike shorts.
After a user wrote, “Had to start that second shot with your a– on the camera. Real classy Paige,” Spiranac clapped back.
“I went from having my back connect to my thighs to this. It’s not the biggest peach now but I’ve been working harder than I ever have in the gym and also with my diet,” she wrote back. “Heck yeah I’m going to show it off! I’m proud of my body and how hard I’ve been working to achieve my fitness goals.”
Spiranac is also proud to be embracing a new chapter with her cameo in the sequel.
“It was amazing. So I got to film my scene with Adam Sandler and he was doing the ‘Happy Gilmore’ swing right in front of me,” she told PEOPLE. “And I had a line and I just was just shaking. I was so nervous, but it was just so exciting and it was really, truly an honor to, one be in the movie, one of my all-time favorite movies. And two, to be with Adam Sandler.”
Read the original article on People
