A TikTok user has sparked backlash after calling the cup inserts in her eight-year-old daughter’s swimsuit “inappropriate.”
Kristina Battaglia was forced to apologize after filming herself removing the cups of her swimsuit, something she considered “unnecessary and provocative.” She did not specify where she had bought the swimsuit.
But other online creators were quick to point out that the cups’ real purpose was to preserve the modesty of early-developing girls.
One influencer, whose account is called The Asian Duo, said: “These pads are not there to convey any inappropriate meaning or any hidden message. They are there to add a layer of protection.”
She added that all children develop at their own pace and that suction cup inserts help when a girl reaches puberty at an early age.
Kristina Battaglia was forced to apologise after filming herself pulling the cups out of her swimsuit and questioning why they were there in the first place.
‘These swimsuits are very thin, and if you wear a very light colored material… stuff is going to come out, and that’s obviously not appropriate,’ the user said in a July 21 video.
The answer has been viewed more than 14 million times.
The Asian duo posted their explanatory video on TikTok just a day after Battaglia spoke out about the swimsuit top and apologized for her initial clip mentioning tops. She did not specify where she had purchased the swimsuit.
The mother called her original video a ‘mistake’ but explained that she made the video after her young daughter found the cup inserts and asked about them.
Battaglia assumed they were there to “lift” her daughter’s breasts, which she considered “unnecessary and provocative.”
He added: “I was beaten down and redirected towards their purpose, and I feel horrible for insinuating otherwise. I sincerely apologize, especially to the mothers,” Battaglia said.
Puberty in girls typically begins when they are eight years old, but medical professionals have seen it occur earlier.
The mother predicted she was being “dragged” online after seeing the number of videos shared and comments, but was happy to see some of them were educational.
She added that she had “learned her lesson” about cup inserts in swimsuits.
Puberty stages in girls typically begin when they are eight years old, but medical professionals have seen it occur earlier.
In some cases, girls may begin going through puberty as early as age seven or earlier, depending on genetics.
One of the first signs of puberty in girls is the development or budding of breasts, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
TikTok users who saw Battaglia’s video praised her for taking “responsibility” for her initial comments.
But others criticized his conservative stance.
One wrote: ‘They’ve started complaining about actual modesty features on swimwear.’
More than one user claimed that cup inserts would have been “super helpful” for them due to the timing of when they started going through puberty.
One person wrote: “At 9 I was a C cup. My mum also developed tissue early. I needed padding but couldn’t find it in a swimsuit small enough. This would have been fantastic for me.”
A third added: “My sister and I hit puberty at eight and nine. I wish this had been around when I was a kid because men, boys and girls alike were quick to point out my nipples and they could be seen through my swimsuit. I was a girl.”
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