Soccer WAG Auctions Wedding Dress for Charity After Facing Cyberbullying Over Her Looks

Toby and Chloe Pink.
Credit: Chloe Pink/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• Chloe Pink, who married Australian soccer star Toby Pink in March, was “relentlessly cyberbullied” and body-shamed after sharing her wedding photos online.
• She is now auctioning off her wedding dress and donating the proceeds to an anti-bullying charity.
• “This dress, which has been part of both beautiful and difficult moments, now has a new purpose,” Chloe said.

Chloe Pink is transforming a painful personal experience into a philanthropic effort aimed at combating online bullying.

The 25-year-old, who wed Australian soccer player Toby Pink in March, faced "relentless cyberbullying" and body shaming after she posted her wedding photos, as reported by the Herald Sun. The negative reactions prompted the couple to reshoot their wedding photos.

In a November 26 Instagram post, Chloe expressed her commitment to anti-bullying advocacy, stating it had become "a meaningful part" of her life. She announced her decision to auction off her wedding dress, with proceeds to benefit Dolly’s Dream Australia, a charity focused on addressing bullying’s impact.

"Yes… I’ve stepped back into my wedding dress for the third time, and I’m honoured to do it for a cause close to my heart," she wrote, reiterating her commitment to support the charity that addresses issues of bullying, anxiety, depression, and youth suicide.

The auction will conclude on December 9. Chloe described her decision to sell the dress as empowering, sharing with Herald Sun, “This dress, which has been part of both beautiful and difficult moments, now has a new purpose."

Reflecting on the extensive online bullying she faced, Chloe noted, "What should have been one of the happiest times of my life became incredibly challenging… it opened my eyes to just how harmful and far-reaching cyberbullying can be, no matter your age, stage of life, or circumstances.”

In April, during an appearance on the Will and Woody podcast, Chloe detailed the emotional toll of cyberbullying. "The Herald Sun article went live. I read the comments, and they were thick and fast coming in. I just spent, I think, three days straight crying at home," she recounted.

Chloe and Toby, who plays for the North Melbourne Football Club, were initially stunned by the backlash. "Initially, Toby was like, ‘No way. There’s no way.’ And he just sat there in silence for like a good day. And he’s like, ‘I am so sorry,’" she recalled.

Despite the negativity, Chloe described her wedding day as "the first day where I’ve actually felt truly beautiful." She added, "Even when I uploaded the photos, I didn’t question if I looked fat. I didn’t question if I looked ugly. I didn’t question my appearance. I felt so beautiful."

This challenging chapter has led Chloe to advocate for better education around body positivity. "We need to teach our children better," she emphasized. "We need to educate our sons and our daughters that we need to stop talking about people’s bodies — talk about what our bodies can do, not what they look like."

In October, Chloe explained her choice to reshoot her wedding photos, stating that the original images had become associated with harmful comments. She wrote on Instagram, "Yes, we re-did our wedding photos, not because our first ones weren’t perfect, but because… I realized that they had become linked to certain articles and comments."

The new photos will remain private, with Chloe advising her followers to remember the personal significance of her wedding: "Before you comment, please remember – this is our wedding, our photos, and we’re happy. That’s all that matters. I don’t need your opinion on my body, and if you feel the urge to share it, please just scroll on."