Kayla Itsines’ Bikini Body Guide slammed by TikTokers after influencer’s viral rant

Her Bikini Body Guide made Kayla Itsines millions of fans and dollars. But years after it was renamed, a rant from the influencer has resulted in it coming under fire again. Find out why.

Has it gone totally pear-shaped for Kayla Itsines?

There has been a new wave of people speaking out against the wellbeing and fitness guru’s once-popular Bikini Body Guide, with many saying the 1200-calorie guide gave them disordered eating.

It comes after the personal trainer and author went viral for a now-deleted rant where she savaged women who film content from a “particular angle”, under the guise of a “glute workout”.

Kayla Itsines has gone viral for a now-deleted rant where she savaged women who film content from a “particular angle”, under the guise of a “glute workout”. Picture: Matt Turner.

The mum-of-two explained while she understood that “booty workouts” got likes and engagement, it was content she did not want her children to see as she was “trying to be an example to women”.

“I probably wouldn’t care if I didn’t have kids, I’ll be like, ‘you do you, boo’,” Itsines said.

“However I have a daughter, and I’m trying to be an example to women. No drinking, no drugs, no smoking, no highly sexualised content.”

The clip, which was viewed more that 1.5 million times before it was deleted, is currently trending on TikTok.

Kayla Itsines in 2014. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Kayla Itsines in 2023. Picture: Instagram

The 33-year-old’s comments sparked a huge amount of backlash, with some even labelling her “hypocritical”, as the viral workout guide that turned her into an international star was targeted specifically towards women and called “Bikini Body Guide”.

Further, some pointed out the guide – which government nutrition calculators estimate recommended about half the daily recommended approximate kilojoule intake for active young women aged 16-20 – included a comparison chart, which told followers how much exercise they would need to do to burn off foods they were “naughtily snacking on”.

An excerpt from Itsines' H.E.L.P plan, which tells readers how much exercise they need to do to burn off "naughty" foods.

In April 2022 a number of young South Australians told The Advertiser that the original Bikini Body Guide sparked a dangerous cycle of dieting, bingeing and body obsession.

Other women came forward anonymously; One of them, Linda (not her real name), contacted Itsines to share the concerns she had with the negative effect she believed it had on her daughter.

A response from Sweat, the parent company of the Bikini Body Guide, said that while they empathised, the app “(promoted) the benefits of fitness and leading a healthy, balanced lifestyle”.

Kayla Itsines has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Kayla Itsines’ Bikini Body Guide slammed by TikTokers after influencer’s viral rant