Principal Sparks Outrage After Telling Girls “No Leggings or You’ll Look Fat”

A US school Principal has come under fire for body-shaming female students.

At two separate assemblies South Carolina Principal, Heather Taylor, told a group of teenage students in the ninth and tenth grade that they shouldn’t wear leggings because they’re not flattering unless you’re thin.

“I’ve told you this before, I’m going to tell you this now, unless you are a size zero or two and you wear something like that, even though you’re not fat, you look fat,” Taylor can be heard telling students in a recording that was obtained by local news station WCBD-TV.

After the backlash from families, Taylor apologised to the students, but many parents say it’s just not good enough.

Student Allison Veazy told WCBD-TV that it was hard for her not to take Taylor’s comments personally, since she often wears leggings.

“It was very hurtful. I felt like my size made me look disgusting towards someone in the clothes that I wear,” she said.

“I wear leggings outside of school and I wear leggings when I go and hang out with my friends, and to think that someone would think that I look like a stuffed sausage — that was kind of hurtful.”

One mum recently faced backlash after suggesting women should stop wearing leggings for the sake of men.

We have also shared previously how a high school principal told female students that dress code violations put “every male in this building in an awkward situation”. Read more here.

There was also the story of a public school principal that suggested a stricter dress code could prevent the sexual abuse of girls. Read that here.

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27 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 05 May 2023
    11:25 am
Oh good lord…..I love my leggings and I wear them because they are comfortable and if you dont like it then tough luck to you. I really dont care because what I wear is about me and not about you.

- - mom81879 said
  - 24 Oct 2019
    2:50 pm
Not a nice message for a school principal to be sharing. But have you seen overweight/obese women wearing leggings? It doesn’t look nice! Sometimes they don’t look nice on slim women. I don’t think they’re a flattering or attractive wear for girls in general. But I wouldn’t be telling school age girls this

- - Blossom said
  - 20 Jul 2019
    11:34 am
That is a disgusting comment. Are they listed ( in print or on- line )as not permitted in the dress code regulations? obviously uniform is not compulsory every day. As long as they are not white (everything is clearly seen through white) there shouldn’t be an issue. Tell the boys to behave themselves. Leggings will not cause sexual abuse. At least the girls’ legs will be warm. I know one girl who wears compulsory school uniform and has told her parents her legs are “freezing cold” at school.

- - skbou said
  - 13 Jul 2019
    10:35 pm
Good grief what a thing to say. She can have her opinion but there is a time and place and that’s definitely not one of them. If there’s a dress code then talk about that, it has nothing to do with how it does or doesn’t make you look.

- - nadine_hill said
  - 11 Jul 2019
    8:00 pm
These are exactly the kind of comments that cause anxiety and low esteem in our teens. Children go to school to learn, be nurtured and supported …. what on earth was this principal thinking to say such things!? Shame on her and I hope she is chastised/punished for these remarks!

- - tessie said
  - 06 Jul 2019
    2:19 pm
She has no right to say this to any girl whether in school or not. She is the school principal not the fashion police. To me this is an act of bullying and she should be punished for that alone.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 06 Jul 2019
    1:08 pm
What on earth was she thinking?

- - becstalou said
  - 05 Jul 2019
    8:30 pm
Not sure why a principal would think they are entitled to provide unsolicited fashion advice, maybe she needs some more training.

- - mom83217 said
  - 04 Jul 2019
    12:02 pm
Hang on ! As a school Principal, you should be encouraging your students to be proud of their achievements, not bully them into thinking they are not deserving.

- - rovermum said
  - 04 Jul 2019
    11:08 am
Wow! I don’t think it’s okay to say this to anyone, anytime no matter who you are.

- - MisChip said
  - 03 Jul 2019
    10:25 pm
It’s not a nice thing to say. Sometimes things like that do need to be said – but not to come from their principal. These kids should have parents to tell them stuff like that. And no – not because it make you look fat – because it leaves nothing to the imagination.

- - mom206279 said
  - 02 Jul 2019
    9:02 am
Teenage girls should not have so much pressure on them about how they look. Leggings aren’t flattering on thin people either, but they are comfortable as hell and that should be the focus of dressing for school over what they look like.

- - Ellen said
  - 02 Jul 2019
    7:55 am
Her comment was out of line especially for someone in her position.
- mom93821 replied
  
  03 Jul 2019 , 4:33 am
  A position where body confidence should be lifted up and not torn down.
- - mom93821 said
  - 02 Jul 2019
    5:38 am
Leggings are fine regardless of size! Wear them and do not let anyone ever try and body shame. No one gets to comment on size!

- - mom265671 said
  - 02 Jul 2019
    12:06 am
Disgusting for her to say that

- - nealsq said
  - 01 Jul 2019
    11:07 pm
A Principal should know better than to say that to teenage girls or anyone for that fact. Disgusting!

- - mom173854 said
  - 01 Jul 2019
    9:27 pm
If it’s ok to wear to school with uniform policy then say nothing. If it’s a general statement then you have no right to make people uncomfortable in any item of clothing. People should wear what they want, what they are comfortable in, what suits their personality. It is no one else’s business

- - mom101628 said
  - 01 Jul 2019
    9:21 pm
I agree with ashna9 – just say no leggings and leave it at that.

- - AmbieBambi said
  - 01 Jul 2019
    9:09 pm
Oh dear!

- - ashna9 said
  - 01 Jul 2019
    7:21 pm
Why not just say no leggings and leave it at that?