Ulrika Hits Back: TV Star Claps Back at Trolls Over Appearance Criticism
Ulrika Jonsson isn’t here for your judgment, and she’s made that crystal clear.
The 57-year-old former Gladiators and Shooting Stars star has responded fiercely after receiving a barrage of harsh and ageist comments online.
The backlash followed her recent appearance on Untapped, the podcast hosted by Made in Chelsea’s Spencer Matthews, where she opened up about her sobriety journey.
Clips from the show made the rounds on social media, and that’s when the comments started to fly. Trolls targeted Jonsson’s appearance, calling her “over-tanned” and “aged.” But she wasn’t about to stay silent.
Taking to Instagram, she addressed the cruel remarks directly. “Most crucially, though, since childhood I’ve suffered from eczema. On my body – the creases of my arms and legs, on my face, eyes and lips. Make-up has always been the enemy because it’s been agony to wear.”
She explained her decision to go makeup-free for the podcast: partly because she forgot, but also because she simply doesn’t enjoy it. Years of heavy make-up under harsh TV lights at ungodly hours had taken a toll.
The presenter also clarified her relationship with the sun. She doesn’t hide it, she’s a self-declared “sun worshipper” who admits she’ll “no doubt pay the price for that.”
She revealed she suffers from uneven pigmentation and, yes, uses filters. Not for vanity, but because “it’s easier than foundation and less painful.”
Despite the jabs, Jonsson said she appreciated the kind messages she’s received for her honesty around sobriety. Still, she couldn’t ignore the wave of negativity about her looks.
“So, I understand that an over-tanned, imperfect and ageing face offends you,” she posted. “But try to listen to the words rather than constantly judging women’s appearance. You might learn something. And making people feel s*** doesn’t make you a hero.”
A raw, unapologetic reminder, Ulrika’s focus isn’t on surface-level judgment, but deeper personal growth. In fact, the podcast episode marked another step in her ongoing sobriety journey.
Speaking to Matthews, she said: “For me, now sobriety is my priority, even though I used to say ‘Oh my children are my priority’. Without my sobriety, I can’t be there for my children, or something awful might happen, or whatever else.”
Her candidness isn’t new. Last December, Jonsson shared that she’d reached her turning point. “On the 5th June 2024, I had the gift of desperation and reached out for help,” she wrote in a separate Instagram post. “I no longer recognised myself and I surrendered.”
She credited her progress to the support she’s received, adding, “The willingness to give up alcohol came from me, yes, but without support of friends, family and my new tribe, I would not have made it this far.”
Ulrika may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and she’s fine with that. But in a world obsessed with perfection, she’s choosing authenticity. And frankly, it’s refreshing.
