Halle Bailey Opens Up About Body Insecurities After Weight Gain — And We Need to Talk About It
Even mermaids have their insecure moments.
Halle Bailey, one-half of the beloved sister duo Chloe x Halle and star of The Little Mermaid, recently got vulnerable about her body insecurities after sharing a bikini photo next to her sister, Chloe Bailey. The internet, in true messy fashion, couldn’t help but compare the two — even though, let’s be clear, Halle just had a baby.
Yep. The new mom took to social media to admit that she’s been struggling with her body image after gaining weight postpartum — and honestly, who hasn’t been there?
In a now-viral post, Halle shared that while she’s learning to embrace her new curves, it hasn’t been easy navigating people’s opinions, especially when standing next to her equally gorgeous sister. The photo sparked a flurry of side-by-side comments, some praising, some nitpicking — and far too many forgetting that these are real women with real bodies and real feelings.
Let’s say it louder for the folks in the back: comparing sisters — or any two women — is not the flex people think it is.
First of all, Halle literally just gave birth. Her body has been through one of the most powerful transformations imaginable. And second, she looks amazing. Glowing skin, radiating confidence, and showing up in a bikini alongside her sister is not weakness — it’s bravery.
Still, it’s heartbreaking to see her feel the pressure to explain or apologize for her natural, beautiful body.
“I’ve been feeling insecure about my weight gain lately,” she admitted, adding that it’s been hard seeing the public pick apart her appearance — especially while adjusting to new motherhood.
And let’s be real: we’ve all had moments where we felt less-than — after a breakup, during a job slump, or just randomly at 3 a.m. scrolling Instagram. But for Halle, those feelings come with millions of eyes watching, dissecting, and commenting.
What she deserves (and what every woman deserves) is grace.
Grace to grow. Grace to evolve. Grace to take up space — whether that means a smaller jeans size or a few extra stretch marks from creating literal life.
Social media may have become the stage for “who wore it better” culture, but it’s up to us to shut that narrative down. Both Halle and Chloe are beautiful in their own right. There’s room for both — and for all of us — to shine without being ranked.
If anything, Halle’s honesty is a reminder that even the most glamorous women can feel insecure. But it’s also proof that vulnerability is power.
To Halle: We see you. We love you. And we hope you never feel like you need to shrink yourself to fit someone else’s idea of beauty. You’re not just glowing — you’re growing. And that’s beautiful.