Gemma Atkinson has spoken out and defended her daughter Mia's bedroom after she experienced shaming from other mums on social media for "gender stereotyping".
The pregnant actress, who is expecting her second child with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Gorka Marquez, has been busy decorating and organising the bedrooms in their home ready for the new arrival.
The 38 year old star is pregnant with a son this time, and as she shared the results of the room painting extravaganza, some of her followers sent trolling comments.
Followers complained, claiming they'd noticed Gemma was enforcing "gender stereotypes" with the colours and style differences between the two rooms.
Gemma shared snaps of Mia's "fairy forest" bedroom, which was a beautiful pink and floral design painted with a mural filled with fairies, toadstools, a rainbow and even a unicorn.
The main backdrop featured a natural looked tree trunk complete with a fairy door, and in the flowing stream below, a mermaid tail popped out of the glistening water.
There was also a sign with the words "Mia's Magic Fairy Forest".
As the former Emmerdale actress posted images of her unborn son's bedroom walls however, they were painted in shades of blue and featured an array of jungle animals.
"Mia's 'big girl' room is done and little man's nursery is painted," Gemma told her fans. "Just need to get final bits of furniture down from the loft. We're reusing Mia's old cot and drawers."
Claiming they weren't criticising the choice but proceeding to do just that, one follower replied to the stories: "Not saying this in a judgey way because I think it's absolutely beautiful and I'm sure you've chosen something you know she will love…
"But it really plays into society's gender stereotypes for girls, doesn't it? Pink, fairies, rainbows, pretty things… And blue for a boy."
Addressing the blunt comments on her children's bedrooms, Gemma hit back: "I've had a few of these msgs and I find it really baffling," also sharing a disgruntled emoji as she addressed the criticism from her followers.
"We didn't choose Mia's room. She did," the star explained. "She told the painter all [of] her favourite colours & [the] characters she wanted.
"I designed the nursery with animals which I love & blue is my favourite colours. Always has been because it reminds me of the ocean.
"I've actually never been into pink. It doesn't mean I'm going against a stereotype or I want to be a boy or that I'm anti 'girl colours'.
"It simply means that my favourite colour is blue and not pink. Jesus Christ give me strength today. Amen," the star added alongside some laughing emojis.
Gemma has been struggling with a number of mum-shaming comments from trolls since announcing she was pregnant with her second child in January.
The actress, who met her partner Gorka when she was taking part on Strictly Come Dancing, recently opened up on her issues with her body image as she admitted she has been trying to accept her changing shape.
Despite that, the recent family holiday helped her to embrace her pregnant body and Gemma shared a number of snaps in bikinis, as she told followers that it was all down to Mia.
"I got to the beach on day 1 of this holiday, looked at Mia playing and I suddenly felt relaxed," the star said. "It dawned on me if I kept them on that she’d ask why I’m in trousers and I thought about the negative effect it could have on her down the line me saying 'because mummy’s legs are bigger than usual'.
"I don’t ever want her to feel like she should cover herself, especially on the beach! So the pants came in handy to wipe up my non alcoholic cocktail but other than that, they haven’t been needed! I've worn my bikinis every day. The top of my thighs chaffed like a MF, but we had an absolute blast and made the most incredible memories as a family.
"I can't believe next time we'll have little man with us as a family of four. We're so lucky and so blessed," she added.
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