Social media personality and professional golfer Paige Spiranac recently told her podcast listeners about an ex-boyfriend who allegedly shared a personal intimate photo of her to others after the couple broke up.
Recalling the troubling revenge porn incident, Spiranac said she was able to “win” in the end and feel “empowered” by posing completely nude for Sports Illustrated.
“Winning in my mind was taking control of my body,” Spiranac said, according to the New York Post. The golfer added that the shoot made her feel “empowered.”
“I was nude, I was completely naked,” she continued. “That was the best moment for me. That was the moment I won, right there, when I did Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and I had my t*** out.”
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Speaking on her “Playing A Round” podcast, Spiranac detailed the “horrible” revenge porn incident, noting that folks who saw the leaked intimate photo of her actually reached out to her about it.
“Just getting these random messages from people you don’t know and they’ve seen you in such a vulnerable way. It was disgusting,” she recalled.
The athlete said she felt “constantly stressed out” about the image, wondering when it would pop up on the Internet or appear on TMZ.
“I would wake up every single day, I would check my phone and be like, ‘Am I going to be on (website) TMZ today? Am I going to be here? Am I going to be there?’” she said.
“The cruel betrayal of Spiranac’s privacy could be considered in violation of revenge porn laws, which now exist in 46 states, including the Instagram star’s home state of Arizona,” the Post noted.
According to the 26-year-old, she was called a “s***” and told she deserved the exposure when she reached out to her ex over the incident.
“When I finally confronted the guy and said, ‘I can’t believe you did this to me,’ he said – and I’ll never forget this – ‘You are the s–t who sent it to me,’” Spiranac said.
“I can never escape this picture,” she added. “It’s always there.”
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According to Spiranac’s website, the 26-year-old describes herself as “a rising golf talent, media personality, and online influencer who’s on a mission to show how much fun golf can be while making a positive impact on the world.”
The golf talent highlights three areas she focuses on: promoting anti-bullying, inspiring women, and “embracing the fun in life.”
“Paige is intensely passionate about doing her part to stop bullying, especially cyberbullying and online hate. She is an official ambassador for The Cybersmile Foundation and often speaks out about her many experiences being bullied throughout her childhood, college, and golf career,” the site reads.
“Encouraging women to be themselves, fight for what they believe, and to embrace their true calling in life is extremely important to Paige,” Spiranac’s site continues. “Through hosting events and clinics, supporting other incredible young women, and posting inspirational messages, Paige hopes to help women not only discover the game of golf but to also feel empowered to achieve their wildest dreams.”