B.C. MLA Brittny Anderson pushes back against complaints about her appearance

An MLA from B.C.’s Interior region is speaking out after her office received complaints from the public that claim she looks like she’s having “too much fun” on the job.

Brittny Anderson, who represents the riding of Nelson-Creston for the BC NDP, says part of her job includes daily visits with people and businesses in the community. Those scenarios often include taking a lot of photos, with some complaints targeting the way she poses and smiles.

While she tells CityNews she’s open to criticism, Anderson says there are more important things to be talking about.

“If they want to criticize me on our government’s policies or if they want to give me feedback on things that need to improve in our community, I completely welcome that. My job, if I don’t know what the challenges are, I can’t address them,” she explained.

“Feedback and criticism is a very, very important part of the work that I do so that I can communicate that to the ministers, to the premier, to staff. And, so, I welcome that. I just have a hard time when you’re criticizing the other parts of my personality that have actually nothing to do with government policy, direction, and how we’re helping people.”

After she was made aware by staff about the comments about her appearance, Anderson took to social media to share her thoughts.

In a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, she was candid about why she stands in a certain way, saying she has “body image issues.”

Just a little video to talk about being a female politician and my personal body image issues.

My response to feedback I have been getting about looking like I am having too much fun…I am having fun, I am also working super hard. I can do both!#bcpoli pic.twitter.com/EQCe8hnTnl

— Brittny Anderson (@BrittnyAnderso) September 27, 2023

“As a politician, I have to take photos basically daily, and that’s not something that I’ve always been very comfortable with. One of the mechanisms for making me feel more comfortable was to pose in photos in a way that made me feel better,” she explained to CityNews. “To get that criticism that people don’t like how I pose, it is what it is, but it’s still unfortunate and I just wanted to address it.”

Women in politics criticized more than male counterparts, MLA says

Anderson explains it’s usually women in politics who have to deal with complaints and comments about their looks, posture, personality, and clothing, adding men don’t face the same challenges.

This is something that came up during the recent Union of BC Municipalities meeting, which Anderson attended.

“There was actually a study that was done looking at bullying and harassment of elected officials, and from the science and from the data, it was very clear that women leaders and women in politics, their level of criticism, harassment, and negative comments was significantly higher than what men face,” she said, adding this point is also evident in every day conversations she has with other women.

“The stories are abundant and rich and just super unfortunate. When I think of the most unfortunate part, it makes other women and people not want to stand up and not want to do this job, and we know that diversity is so critical in leadership if we’re going to move forward as a society.”

For the record, the MLA says she does have a lot of fun at work and that she works hard while doing so.

“I got into politics because I love my community. Deeply, deeply love my community. I grew up in Nelson, I grew up around the Kootenays … The Kootenays are a fundamental part of who I am. I want to fight for them everyday, and when I get to go out and meet people and connect with people, it really, really fills my cup up,” Anderson said.

“I’m working really, really hard, and I’m trying to be as effective as possible, and also have fun.”

Elected in 2020, Anderson currently serves as the parliamentary secretary for Tourism to the minister of Tourism Arts, Culture and Sport. She also serves as the premier’s Special Advisor on Youth.

Prior to her time in provincial politics, Anderson served on Nelson city council, as well as the Board of the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

In the days since she posted her response on X, Anderson says many people have been “unexpectedly kind.”