Playboy model charged over gym body shaming photo

A Playboy model who took a photo of a naked woman in a US gym changing room and posted it on social media with body shaming comments has been charged.

Authorities in Los Angeles announced yesterday that Dani Mathers, 29, will face an invasion of privacy charge, reports cbsnews.

Mathers faced a barrage of criticism after she shared the photo of the 70-year-old woman on Snapchat in July.

The caption read: "If I can’t unsee this then you can’t either".

She later apologised for the post in an online video and deleted her social media accounts.

The gym reported the posting to police and scrapped Mathers’ membership.

Mathers is due to appear in court later this month and could face up to six months in prison and a fine.

“Body-shaming is humiliating, with often painful, long-term consequences," Los Angeles county prosecutor Mike Feur said in a statement.

"It mocks and stigmatises its victims, tearing down self-respect and perpetuating the harmful idea that our unique physical appearances should be compared to air-brushed notions of ‘perfect.’”

“What really matters is our character and humanity.

“While body-shaming, in itself, is not a crime, there are circumstances in which invading one’s privacy to accomplish it can be. And we shouldn’t tolerate that.”