Last year we shared a story about the reigning Mrs. American, Hannah Neeleman, of the wildly popular Instagram account Ballerina Farm, answering a question about when she felt most empowered as a woman.
She gave the most truly female answer, saying,
I have felt this feeling seven times now as I bring these sacred souls to the earth. After I hold that newborn baby in my arms, the feeling of motherhood and bringing them to the earth is the most empowering feeling I have ever felt.
Now she's felt that feeling for an eighth time, after giving birth to her littlest baby girl, Flora Jo, at home earlier this month. But this week, Hannah, with baby Flora along for the ride, is in Las Vegas to compete at the Mrs. World pageant.
As could be expected from any account with more than 8 million followers, the comments are full of haters, mostly in the form of angry women looking to find controversy here.
Some of their points are valid, I mean, sure it's an unrealistic expectation for women to compete in the Mrs. World pageant 12 days postpartum, but I've never expected that of any woman before, so I'm not likely to start holding random people to that standard now.
And obviously, Hannah Neeleman should take care of her health while recovering from her 8th delivery, but frankly, this isn't this Ballerina Farm girl's first rodeo. I think she knows what she can handle.
These commenters really get it:
Not to mention, she has seven other children at home to care for! A few days away to bond with her newborn, while being pampered and catered to between pageant events, is nothing to sneeze at.
Best of luck to Mrs. American and sweet baby American on their pageant this week!
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