Earlier this year, fashion influencer Janka Polliani (44) made her catwalk debut during the Danish fashion week in Copenhagen.
In recent years, the 44-year-old has established herself in the fashion world, and recently signed a contract with Elite Models.
Nevertheless, several people are said to have had strong opinions about Polliani’s debut – specifically about how her body looked.
– Absolutely gorgeus
In the latest episode of the podcast “Janka og Marte”, the 44-year-old shares candidly about both harassment and serious accusations she has read about herself.
– It feels like an overstepping, she tells Dagbladet.
– Body harassment
It was this week that Polliani was notified that a post about her had been shared online.
When she entered the forum, she saw that people were talking about the fashion show in Copenhagen.
– They took pictures from the screening and zoomed in on my body. Then they are really nasty in how they talk about me. What stings the most is that they accuse me of having edited how I look in social media, she says in the podcast.
In the forum, which Dagbladet has read, Polliani is accused of having edited his body.
“I think she’s a plus size model, but I didn’t recognize her from Instagram because there’s a six pack and a slightly different look,” writes one person.
“Big difference between these photos and the photo from the catwalk. Here everything is tight and trained, but on the catwalk she looked like an XL model with fat hanging over the edge of her panties,” reads another comment.
Exasperated: – Punch in the stomach
In front of Dagbladet, she describes the whole thing as harassment:
– It’s as physical harassment as it gets. Here, there are a bunch of people with anonymous names and pictures who can say exactly what they want.
Polliani adds that she helped introduce the retouching law that came in 2021.
– I can tolerate people reacting. Body is body, and this is mine. It can change from hour to hour. But here people made accusations without any substance whatsoever – I don’t understand that it’s legal.
CATWALK DEBUT: Janka Polliani received mixed reviews after the fashion show. Photo: Cynthia Anderson/Shutterstock
sea view
– Lump in throat
For the influencer, reading through the forum was overwhelming.
– I felt like I was back in secondary school and that there are people around me saying things that are not true. I got a big lump in my throat.
Polliani says that she is not looking to take anyone, but rather looking for justice.
New images create reactions
– Here, people can talk freely about me and make accusations without me having any control over it, so it will still be allowed to stand. Action must be taken to prevent online trolling.
She adds:
– It felt very tough and vulnerable, and it really got to me. I dreaded the episode coming out because I knew it was going to be picked up.
The 44-year-old says that she chose to open up about the incident because she believes that a change is necessary.
– If no one speaks up, then there will never be a change in either laws or rules. I think it is expected that you, as a public figure, should deal with so much.
Criticized: – Should not be promoted
– One more change is needed. Not just for me, but for the kids. People should not be allowed to throw around accusations without any basis. I was shocked when I entered the forum and read what was being written about Norwegian high-profile people. That there is no better system and rules for how people can talk about others is insane.
The Retouching Act
Fashion influencers were one of those who cheered the loudest when the retouching law came a couple of years ago.
In June 2021, changes were made to the Marketing Act and The Storting decided that retouched advertising must be marked in social media:
“The advertiser, and whoever designs the advertisement, must also ensure that the advertisement in which the shape, size or skin of a body has been changed by retouching or other manipulation must be marked.”
