Florence Pugh defends wearing sheer Valentino dress amid criticism
Florence Pugh is comfortable in her skin and will not apologize for it.
The Oscar-nominated actress took to Instagram on Sunday to respond to criticism of a dress she wore to Valentino’s haute couture show in Rome, Italy on Friday. Pugh donned a sheer dress in bright pink tulle from the Italian fashion house, without a bra, with her breasts showing through the gauzy fabric.
“Listen, I knew when I wore this amazing Valentino dress that there would be no way there wouldn’t be comments on it,” Pugh wrote in a lengthy Instagram caption. “Whether negative or positive, we all knew what we were doing.”
Despite the expected scrutiny, the ‘Little Women’ star said “not a wink from me was nervous” to wear the daring dress and thanks the “very strong, powerful, curvy women” with whom she grew up to have instilled that confidence.
“We were raised to find power in the folds of our bodies. Be strong to be comfortable,” Pugh said. “It’s always been my mission in this industry to say ‘f— it and f— that’ whenever someone expects my body to turn into an opinion of what’s hot or sexually attractive.”
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Pugh added that while she “accepts the intricacies of my body that make me, me”, she was struck by “the ease with which men totally destroy a woman’s body, publicly, proudly, so that everyone sees it.”
“It’s not the first time and it certainly won’t be the last time a woman has heard what’s wrong with her body from a crowd of strangers, what’s worrying is how some some of you can be vulgar,” Pugh explained. “Many of you wanted to let me know aggressively… how embarrassed I should be to be so ‘flat-chested.’ I have lived in my body for a long time, I know perfectly well the size of my chest and I am not afraid of it.
The 26-year-old actress concluded her post by calling on her critics to respect “all women” and all “humans” in the future.
“Grow up. Respect people. Respect bodies,” Pugh said. “Life will get a lot easier, I promise.”
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Several famous friends of Pugh applauded his candor in the comments.
“ok that’s what i was saying ggg,” Aubrey Plaza wrote.
“You are truly amazing,” commented actress Joey King. “You put into words what so many people feel but cannot express.”
“RESPECT. Period.,” Ariana DeBose wrote.
“You have always been glorious you Flo”, commented actress Jeanine Mason. “It’s one of the constants in the universe that brings me so much joy. Flo being Flo no matter what.
“You are a magic queen (expletive) and we don’t deserve you,” Jameela Jamil wrote.
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USA Today
