Dear Kim Kardashian,

I know that most people opened this letter thinking I would bash you for the nude pic you tweeted on Monday. But that is actually not why I am here.

You see, when you sent out that tweet on Monday, my first thought was: Wow. Look at that amazing curvy body.

When you’re like I have nothing to wear LOL pic.twitter.com/UlSLZb1fp1

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) March 7, 2016

Like all girls, I get days where I am just not happy with my body. Some mornings I wake up and look in the mirror and just think: Ugh.

I am perfectly healthy, so I absolutely hate that I have days like these – it’s not right. But when I saw your photo, and your self-confidence, I found it empowering. Surprising even to me, because I usually take the conservative, Calvinistic stance when it comes to this.

What bothered me was your childish behaviour afterwards. All opinions aside (about your selfie, and about Chloe’s so-called slut-shaming), this tweet was truly just downright mean.

Kim can post photos of whatever she wants, but this tweet was unnecessary and just downright mean. https://t.co/0PXhrB3OIR

— Anja van der Spuy (@AnjaWintour) March 8, 2016

I was bullied at school, and this reminded me of how one person can make you feel so incredibly inferior. And how it only takes one comment to wipe away your self-confidence and make you forget your achievements.

I know, I know. It’s just Twitter. But your tweets have power, and a lot of it. In fact, it only took one tweet from you to whip Twitter into a frenzy.

@KimKardashian @ChloeGMoretz Chloe is an actress… But you.. Who are you again ? Oh oups you are nothing, just a girl who shows her body

— nès (@InesMazade) March 9, 2016

Kim Kardashian can wear turtlenecks for the rest of her life and y’all still gonna bring up her sextape she might as well do what she wants

— JORGE (@ItsJorgeAcosta) March 9, 2016

Who agrees with me @piersmorgan plays with his small carrot while staring at @KimKardashian nude picture . He is obsessed with the family

— King Emanuel Ebouee (@TheRealEbouee) March 9, 2016

Miley Cyrus just possibly called out Kim Kardashian and Bette Midlerhttps://t.co/BTCoyPxgvM pic.twitter.com/pLPW1c33og

— BuzzFeed UK (@BuzzFeedUK) March 9, 2016

Bullying, no matter what form it takes on, is never acceptable. Never. I just wish you would continue using your influence to spread powerful messages such as these:

Hey, guys. I wanted to write a post elaborating on my tweets last night. In all seriousness, I never understand why people get so bothered by what other people choose to do with their lives.

I don’t do drugs, I hardly drink, I’ve never committed a crime—and yet I’m a bad role model for being proud of my body?

It always seems to come back around to my sex tape. Yes, a sex tape that was made 13 years ago. 13 YEARS AGO. Literally that lonnng ago. And people still want to talk about it?!?!

I lived through the embarrassment and fear, and decided to say who cares, do better, move on. I shouldn’t have to constantly be on the defense, listing off my accomplishments just to prove that I am more than something that happened 13 years ago.

Let’s move on, already. I have.

I am empowered by my body. I am empowered by my sexuality. I am empowered by feeling comfortable in my skin. I am empowered by showing the world my flaws and not being afraid of what anyone is going to say about me. And I hope that through this platform I have been given, I can encourage the same empowerment for girls and women all over the world.

I am empowered by my husband, who is so accepting and supportive and who has given me a newfound confidence in myself. He allows me to be me and loves me unconditionally.

I feel so lucky to have grown up surrounded by strong, driven, independent women. The life lessons I’ve learned from my sisters, my mother and my grandmother, I will pass along to my daughter. I want her to be proud of who she is. I want her to be comfortable in her body. I don’t want her to grow up in a world where she is made to feel less-than for embracing everything it means to be a woman.

It’s 2016. The body-shaming and slut-shaming—it’s like, enough is enough. I will not live my life dictated by the issues you have with my sexuality. You be you and let me be me.

I am a mother. I am a wife, a sister, a daughter, an entrepreneur and I am allowed to be sexy.

#happyinternationalwomensday

This gave me goosebumps. You didn’t need to lash out at anyone on Twitter, because this message on its own is a big middlefinger to all the haters.

And you know what? I agree that people must stop using your sex tape as a way to demean you. You were betrayed by a man you trusted, but instead of cowering, you turned your life into an empire. So use your influence to build women up.

“And I hope that through this platform I have been given, I can encourage the same empowerment for girls and women all over the world.”

Regards,

Anja