Jacqueline Jossa's loyal fans have come to her defence after the former EastEnders star was mum-shamed for a recent social media post.
The 30-year-old lifestyle influencer took to Instagram on Wednesday to show off her kids' back-to-school kicks, as part of a brand collaboration with a European footwear company. In the upbeat video, Jacqueline tells her 3.5 million followers that she and husband Dan Osbourne "always" buy school shoes from Deichmann at the end of the holidays.
"They are durable, sturdy, scuff-resistant, and last for everyday wear right up until they don't fit," the soap star explained in the voiceover of the ad, which shows her two adorable daughters, Ella, 7, and Mia, 4, modelling their shiny new brogues as they dance around their six-bedroom Essex mansion. Other clips show the sisterly duo descending their carpeted staircase while wearing matching dresses and clutching identical colourful lunch bags.
Jacqueline also admitted she's "really trying to organized" before the first term rolls around, telling fans she's determined not to leave her back-to-school shopping "to the last minute" this year. She ended the video by reminding viewers that Deichmann is offering a 'buy one, get one half price' deal on all kids shoes until September 10.
The wholesome post received surprising backlash from fans, however, some of whom criticised the price of her daughters' new shoes amid the cost-of-living crisis.
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness"£30 for school shoes that will be scuffed in minutes don’t seem fair to me," one person wrote, while another suggested Jacqueline had purchased the shoes too far in advance: "What happens if between now and back to school, they grow out of the shoes, always good to be ahead if the rush, but maybe a tad to far ahead?"
It didn't take long for Jacqueline's fans to jump to her defence, though, with many calling out the trolls for being unnecessarily judgmental.
"Why she being slagged off for paying £30 for school shoes, I'd rather pay £60 for kickers that are guna [sic] last than replace £10 ones weekly cos my child is heavy footed," one person wrote.
"If people are happy to judge on here, I dread to think what their attitudes are towards other parents in the playground! I’d be mortified if I thought other parents were judging me based on my daughters school shoes!" another fan commented.