'Star Mums': How Did Next Get It So Wrong?

Written by Joanna Johnston for her blog, LilyB and Me.

You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Every now and then I see something that gets right under my skin.

Generally, if I have seen it on the internet, I try pay no heed, because, well it’s the internet and it’s bound to happen 99% of the time you go online. The security of voicing an opinion from behind a screen with anonymity makes people bold, even offensive so I laugh it off.

But sometimes there’s that one thing I can’t shake! This is one of them times.

You are probably waking up to the DISASTER that is #starmumgate . A not so wonderful creation of Next and Hello magazine where they have selected a panel of celeb mums who will select the UK’s ‘Star Mum’ ( whatever that is?) all perfectly timed in the run up to Mother’s day. Because what better way to celebrate the women who selflessly dedicate their lives to others, than to pit them against each other and pick the ‘BEST’ one.

There are so so many things wrong with this so I will start with the obvious.

MOTHERHOOD IS NOT A COMPETITION !

Motherhood is HARD. It’s harder when you feel like you are being constantly judged by other mum’s, even by society, for any choices you make or how you parent. Pitting mums against each other for the title of’best mum’ not only patronizing and insulting ( and sound’s like it belongs on Father Ted’s ‘Lovely Girl’s ‘ episode’) but it is just plain RUDE!

More embarrassing though is the shambles of a panel that both parties thought would be acceptable in this campaign .

Apparently being a young white, slim, beautiful, middle-class celebrity means you are perfectly entitled to decide who’s a great mum and if you don’t fit their criteria, which is strangely similar to panel criteria, well you just don’t make the cut because all of the finalists in this campaign bear uncanny similarities to the panel (without the celeb status)

Should we just ignore the fact that Binky Felsteads daughter is just FOUR MONTHS OLD?

How she can be judging the parenting skills of others is beyond me. My daughter is almost nine months old and I am still struggling to adjust to motherhood. Having celeb status and lots of money doesn’t make someone more equipped to be a mum. Try being a mum and not having a nanny/p.t/cook and see how much time you have to be slim, immaculate, perfect and judgey!

It’s not really a surprising coming from Hello Mag, a rag notorious for prying into the lives of others and tearing women down many factors like appearance, weight, relationship status and much more. However is is hugely surprising that Next is involved

On a brighter note, I am so proud to see the passion and support for each other that people have displayed in rejecting this horrendous campaign .

I, for one, will be watching to see what happens next! (No pun intended)