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Clementine Ford has drastically changed her looks because of online trolls

Clementine Ford’s looks have drastically changed since she became the most famous feminist in Australia but the reason behind the glow-up is devastating.

'We need laws' to combat online bullying

Controversial feminist Clementine Ford has opened up about why she has drastically changed her looks since gaining a huge following.

Ford’s dramatic transformation means she has gone from having auburn hair to bleach blonde hair and had a complete style revolution. She started out looking like Andi at the beginning of Devil Wears Prada, and now she looks like Andi at the end of The Devil Wears Prada.

Ford has also lost weight and openly shared her journey online of getting Botox and falling in love with make-up and fashion.

She has gone from having an earthy, minimal, relaxed look to a more chic made-up look, and it is hard not to notice the stark difference.

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Clem Ford in the early days of her writing career. Picture: Instagram/Clementine Ford
Clem Ford in the early days of her writing career. Picture: Instagram/Clementine Ford
A cruel meme about Clem Ford that was shared online.
A cruel meme about Clem Ford that was shared online.

Ford revealed the sad truth behind her makeover after someone on Instagram accused her of “falling victim to misogyny” by getting anti-ageing treatments and documenting the results online.

The follower said that she’d return to Ford’s Instagram “if you come back from this beauty and anti-ageing Influencer stuff that undermines the really important work you’ve done”.

In response, Ford opened up about why she’d altered her looks, and in a lengthy Instagram story, she wrote: “You can disagree with my thoughts and actions on cosmetic interventions, but please don’t waste my time by telling me you find it sad or disappointing that I, a woman who has spent almost her entire adult career being called ugly, who has been turned into memes, who has had her emotional and physical wellbeing put at risk because of the things I say about men’s violence against women, has found some kind of power in removing some of the means by which men can abuse me online.”

Clem Ford has undergone a glam up since being trolled online for her appearance.
Clem Ford has undergone a glam up since being trolled online for her appearance.

Ford shared with news.com.au that now her appearance has changed she’s less likely to get such horrible messages about how she looks.

“For almost all of my public career, I was abused for being ugly, for being fat, for having freckles – even for having a diastema.

“As I’ve gotten older and begun to play more with my appearance, I’ve found the comments have shifted. Now the men who abuse me are more often to say I’ve had too much plastic surgery (I’ve had none), which is a welcome respite from the time someone said I was ‘uglier than a dead dog on the side of the road’.

“I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a part of me that has found some kind of protection in succumbing to cultural pressure to look a certain way, but the fact that I also enjoy aesthetic play, fashion, make up and cosmetic treatments seems to be irrelevant.

“Now, I’m as likely to receive comments from other women criticising me because I’ve ‘sold out’ or am somehow doing the work of the patriarchy because I like having Botox to remove the crease between my eyes.

“I mean, all this could be avoided if people just stopped commenting on other’s appearances in the first place. But here we are. Ultimately, if something makes getting through the day a little bit easier and a little less hostile, I’m okay with it.”

Ford has been open and honest about the beauty treatments she invests in. Picture: Instagram/Clem Ford
Ford has been open and honest about the beauty treatments she invests in. Picture: Instagram/Clem Ford

Ford’s looks have been cruelly mocked online for years. A meme is circling around that reads, “Any wonder she became a feminist?” with a photo of a young Ford as the focus.

In 2017 right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos during his Australian tour, projected an old photo of Ford with the word, “unf##ckable” on big screens during his talks in Adelaide and Perth and Ford has also faced constant online trolling.

Throughout her makeover journey, Ford has remained transparent, often sharing with her followers what beauty treatments she is trialling and has been open about not wanting to contribute to unrealistic beauty standards by not revealing the interventions she uses.

Originally published as Clementine Ford has drastically changed her looks because of online trolls

Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/lifestyle/clementine-ford-has-drastically-changed-her-looks-because-of-online-trolls/news-story/81d7b3d1a020fde430866b9da9028c19