Woman quits job, accuses boss of body shaming

Sherene Zarrabi/Facebook

STILLWATER, Okla. – An Oklahoma woman said she quit her job after she was discriminated against by the owner of the store she worked for.

Sherene Marie Zarrabi worked at a boutique store in Stillwater called Dainty Hooligan. She said the owner, Jessica Issler, sent her an email about the photos she was posting on the store's Instagram account. Zarrabi said Issler went on the Instagram account and deleted all the photos of Zarrabi modeling the store's clothes.

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The email reads: "Something I want to make sure you keep in mind: I want size small, the stereotypical 'model' type to model our clothes. Please use our pictures of our models if Stillwater store can't find someone who would be considered 'model material.' This is not to put anyone down but to communicate the expectations of presenting our brand. Don't take it personal, all I ask for is really good representation. In exchange for the freedom, I ask you to take down all pictures of anyone that doesn't fit the criteria."

Zarrabi posted the email on her Facebook page.

"I just want to start by saying this: I am fully comfortable with who I am and the way I look. I have recently been attacked and discriminated against by the owner of Dainty Hooligan," she wrote. "THIS is the reason young girls have body image issues. This is disgusting."

Zarrabi said she quit as soon as she read the email.

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In an interview with refinery29.com, Zarrabi said store employees never had guidelines for using the brand's social media accounts before.

Zarrabi wrote a message on Facebook thanking everyone for their support after she quit. She wrote: "I'm so overwhelmed by all of the love and words of positivity I've been receiving over my post. I have the most beautiful friends and family with the purest hearts. Every text, phone call, FaceTime, friend request, Facebook message, and share is so much appreciated! I overheard my 9 year old sister saying earlier that every person is beautiful, no matter what size they are. It's sad when a child has a bigger heart than a middle-aged woman. As I said in my previous post, love yourself! If anybody tries to bring you down, it's because they are dissatisfied with themselves."

Dainty Hooligan has five locations in the U.S., two in Texas and one in Houston.