A politician has flaunted her stunning curves in a bikini – admitting it took 23 years to feel confident enough to wear one again. Monica Arce, who served as an independent deputy for Chile’s District 12 from 2022 to 2026, took to Instagram to share her eye-popping glow at the age of 40.
The mum-of-four posted fetching photos of herself in a bikini on a beach. She also shared a powerful reflection on the brutal body-shaming she had to endure in Parliament.
Monica revealed that years of crippling insecurity worsened during her four years in Congress of Chile. Critics, including some colleagues, targeted her appearance instead of her politics – even slamming her shortly after giving birth.
She explained: “It took 23 years for me to dare wear a swimsuit again. When they didn’t like my policies or interventions, they didn’t criticise my ideas.
“They used my physical appearance to insult me.” She was then branded “superficial and vain” for focusing on her health and fitness.
But the ex-MP, a logistics engineer by training, said she has emerged stronger from the experience. “At 40, I feel incredibly proud of my process professionally, physically and above all, spiritually,” she said.
“The most visible change for most was my physical one, but those closest to me witnessed that the biggest change was forged in my soul.” Monica, who did not seek re-election in 2025, now focuses on local activism in areas like her home city of Puente Alto, Chile.
Her candid post has sparked a wave of support online, with many praising her for turning the tables on toxic political hate. One supporter said: “You’ve always been a beautiful Chilean girl, let the others cry with envy!”
“You’ve always been beautiful, it’s so nice to see you happy,” added Camila. Eugenia remarked: “Admirable Monica, you look wonderful, and you were beautiful before too.”
Body shaming and negative body image are widely reported in the UK and are increasingly framed by charities and MPs as a public-health issue, because of the links to anxiety, depression, disordered eating and, in the most severe cases, self-harm.
Evidence collated by the Mental Health Foundation and highlighted in parliamentary briefings suggests the problem cuts across age groups, but is particularly acute among teenagers and young adults.
Among adults, around one in five (20%) said they felt “shame” about their body image in the past year. Larger shares reported knock-on effects on mood: 34% said body image had made them feel down or low, while 19% said it had left them feeling “disgusted” about themselves.
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