Surfing champion ditches bikinis as she says the sport is ‘hyper-sexualised’
A surfing champion has swapped her bikini for a wetsuit as she accused the sport of being sexist.
Sophie Hellyer, a former British champion who has modelled and competed around the world wearing bikinis, said surfing had become “hyper-sexualised” and claimed she has suffered a drop in coverage since she stopped wearing revealing swimwear.
She said competing made her feel like “a glorified bikini model” and called for a change in attitudes across the sport and surrounding industry.
Ms Hellyer, 30, from Westward Ho!, Devon, said: “I definitely get a lot less coverage in the media now I’m wearing a 5mm wetsuit all year. Is that linked? Probably. When was the last time you saw a woman in a full wetsuit in a surf mag?
“I just want to see a fairer representation of the female surfing community, wetsuit hoods and all.”
The issue of the portrayal of women in the sport came under the spotlight when photographers were told not to zoom in on women in bikinis.
Ms Hellyer continued: “The subject of hyper-sexualisation in surfing is especially interesting for me as I have been on both sides of the debate.
“I am full of contradictions. I have modelled in countless bikini photoshoots and I have shouted feminism from the rooftops. I don’t believe I have to stop riding a pink surfboard just because I believe in equal pay.”