Model and TV personality Rachael Finch appeared downcast on Friday after fiercely defending herself against critics who slammed her behaviour at her daughter’s recent school cross-country race.
Rachael raised eyebrows last Friday when she uploaded a video of herself jogging behind daughter Violet, eight, while screaming words of encouragement as she competed against her peers.
The Miss Universe Australia winner-turned-fitness influencer looked in low spirits as she stepped out the front of her Sydney home.
The mother-of-two was makeup free and dressed down in a turtleneck jumper and a pair of tight leggings that showcased her enviable figure.
She completed the casual look with white socks and Nike slides, while her brunette locks were slicked back into a bun.
Rachael responded to those who criticised her approach to parenting in an Instagram video on Thursday and insisted she was just ‘motivating her child to do her best’.
‘Just a quick message to anyone wanting to criticise or personally attack me for wanting to support, encourage and motivate my child to do the very best that she can do,’ she said.
‘Just a couple of things. One, check your facts. And two, check back in eight or so years when Violet is an adult to see the progress.’
Popular influencers Amy, Kate and Sophie Taeuber took aim at the mummy blogger on their Outspoken podcast earlier this week.
‘I first saw people talking about this online before seeing the video, and at first I was like, “Oh, she’s probably just one of those supportive parents.” But this was the next level,’ one sister said.
‘I don’t understand how this school let her run behind her child during the race. Surely it would have been really off putting for the other kids?’ another agreed.
One sister pointed out that there would have been plenty of children running behind Rachael, given that Violet placed 12th out of 100.
‘Can you imagine the other mums there seeing this? [They’d be asking], “Why the hell is she allowed at the school on the course?”‘ another added.
While the triplets commended Rachael for showing interest in her daughter’s school activities, they claimed her behaviour that day ‘seemed a bit odd’.
Click here to resize this module
‘It seems like she’s vicariously living through her child because this seemed to be one of her dreams,’ one podcaster said, as another agreed: ‘Oh, it was very difficult to watch.’
One sister insisted: ‘I would be pretty p**sed off if I was a parent at this school.
‘[Imagine if] I’m very excited for my child to be competing in this race, but I’m thinking, “Well, no wonder my child didn’t do so well when they’ve got the advantage of having their mum there breathing down their neck, telling them to keep going.”‘