Australian lingerie brand Nala has responded to Meta after Instagram removed a photo of model Simone Holtznagel breastfeeding her daughter Gia.
The post, which emerged as part of Nala’s bold new campaign, was flagged for “nudity or sexual activity” by Meta’s automated systems.
But rather than back down, the Melbourne-based brand has fought back, taking a stand in favour of women’s rights and the normalisation of breastfeeding in public.
In response to the removal, Nala She reposted the image, along with a screenshot of Meta’s report, which claimed the post violated its nudity guidelines.
The image was met with overwhelming support from Nala’s followers, with hundreds of comments calling Meta’s decision outdated and sexist.
The brand appealed the removal and, following significant backlash, Meta reinstated the original carousel of images, which now bears the bold caption: “No edits, no apologies.”
“Advertising reflects our society, and to suggest that certain content should be restricted implies that it should also be hidden from view in real life,” a Nala spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
“There is nothing inappropriate about exposing a woman’s body, especially when she is breastfeeding her baby. Breastfeeding is natural and it is time to normalize it.”
Australian lingerie brand Nala has hit back at Meta after Instagram removed a photo of model Simone Holtznagel breastfeeding her daughter Gia.
The post, which appeared as part of Nala’s bold new campaign, was flagged for “nudity or sexual activity” by Meta’s automated systems, but the brand defiantly republished the images.
The campaign, titled Sorry To Offend You, is designed to challenge the stigma surrounding breastfeeding in public and celebrate the beauty of motherhood.
Simone, best known for her appearance on Australia’s Next Top Model, is the face of the campaign, which shows her breastfeeding her five-month-old daughter Gia in public places in Melbourne.
The powerful campaign also marked the first time Simone and her young daughter Gia were photographed together for a solo photo shoot.
However, just five days after Nala posted the images, Meta’s AI system automatically flagged them for violating its nudity policy, leading to their removal.
Nala appealed the decision and, after an outpouring of support, the content was reviewed by a human moderator, who deemed the images appropriate.
Social media users have since rallied behind Nala and Simone, with fans flooding the comments to show their support for the campaign and criticise Meta for her initial decision.
The brand appealed the removal, and after significant backlash, Meta reinstated the original carousel of images, which now bears the bold caption: “No edits, no apologies.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Meta for comment.
Simone welcomed daughter Gia with personal trainer Jono Castano on Easter Sunday, but the couple have since gone their separate ways.
The couple had a bitter split just nine weeks after welcoming Gia, and Jono publicly confirmed their split in July.
“Who knows what the future holds, our goal is simply to be the best parents for Gia at this stage,” she told Daily Mail Australia in a statement at the time.
“I wanted to set an example for my daughter, that’s something that changed for me. One day I thought, ‘What am I doing? This is not right.’ I would hate for her to be in that situation,” she said.
“In the end, you have to do what’s best for you. No matter how many promises or whatever people make to you, when they show you who they are, believe them. Because you can’t change people.”
Simone welcomed daughter Gia with personal trainer Jono Castano (both pictured in May) on Easter Sunday, but the couple have since gone their separate ways.
Simone said she is glad she raised her five-month-old baby, Gia, alone and is confident she made the right decision.
“I’ve never felt more confident about anything and I know I can do it alone. It’s a shame that I have to do it alone most of the time, but I couldn’t think of it any other way, honestly,” she said.
“I think what I’m doing is great. The most important thing for me is that Gia is happy and healthy, and that I am happy and healthy too.
“Because I firmly believe that if the mother is unhappy, it is difficult to have a happy child. And I feel that Gia right now is a reflection of me, as she is a very content and happy little girl.”