Kate Kleckston draws stretch marks on daughter's doll to teach body acceptance

Kate Kleckston, a children's book author known for the picture book "My Mum Is a Tigress", posted photos on Instagram after drawing stretch marks on a new doll she bought for her daughter. Kleckston says the gesture was meant to help children see that bodies come in many shapes and that imperfections are normal.

Debate on social media

In her books and in her home, Kleckston aims to present real-life experiences and challenges that many people face while growing up — including messages that some were taught to hide scars and imperfections instead of accepting them. Because her daughter loves dolls, she used a marker to add faint stretch marks to the toy so her child would see them as ordinary.

The photos prompted mixed reactions online. Some commenters criticized the idea, arguing that it encourages young girls to worry about their bodies. Typical responses included: "Why are you making young girls worry about their bodies? Teach them to be positive about themselves" and "I have three children and not a single stretch mark. Teach them to think positively."

Kleckston says she is not overly troubled by the negative comments. She accepts that people will have different opinions and remains committed to her work encouraging a healthy body image among children.

Her intent, both in her picture book and in the small, everyday gesture with the doll, is to make the topic approachable for young readers and to normalise visible marks that many people carry on their bodies.

Photo: Instagram\/ Kejt Klekston