Georgina Rodriguez posted photographs of herself in a white bikini on Instagram on Tuesday, declaring that she "loves her curves" in a body positivity message shared days before she is due to marry her fiance Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 32-year-old, who is mother to six children, used the post to hit back at cruel body shamers who had been criticizing her appearance in recent days.
Georgina, an Argentine-Spanish model, has been in a relationship with Ronaldo since 2016. The Portuguese forward is one of the most decorated players in football history.
"My body will change, as all women's bodies do. And I hope it continues to do so for many years, because that will mean I'm still alive," Georgina wrote.
A message for her daughters
Georgina said she wanted to teach her three daughters, who she said "will one day be great women," that a person's worth can never depend on their physical appearance or the opinions of strangers. She said she was "deeply proud" of the values Ronaldo embodies as a father and a man.
She said the "little dose of positive psychology" she tries to give her children every day also helps her stay grounded "in this world of so much fantasy."
Comments about boat photos
Georgina said she had seen "all kinds of comments" in recent days about photographs of her on a boat, with some people commenting on her body and others defending her. She said she told Ronaldo she was worried people were now calling her fat "because I make a living from my image."
"You don't live off your image. You live off who you are. A perfect woman. Beautiful, with a great body, a mother, a good person, successful, and who lives life with love. What more could you want?"
Georgina said Ronaldo replied with those words, adding that "it's normal to be envied" and that the pair had talked about many other things, because "sometimes we all need someone to remind us what truly matters."
'I love my curves'
Georgina went on to write: "I love my curves. I love the freedom to live in the body I choose. In the body that supports me, that has allowed me to embrace, create life, fall, and get back up. A body that deserves respect, love, and gratitude in all its versions."
She added that true success had never been about fitting into "a standard that no one knows who invented," but about living in peace, surrounding herself with the people she loves, enjoying family and friends, taking care of her health, laughing, learning and living.
Alongside the message, Georgina shared a carousel of pictures from her summer getaway, including images of herself enjoying food aboard a private jet.
Wedding at Funchal cathedral
Ronaldo, 41, and Georgina are set to marry at Funchal cathedral this week, before moving on to the five-star Savoy Palace hotel for the reception, according to the Sun, which reported that weddings at the venue usually start from 3pm.
A source told the newspaper that two floors of the hotel, which has four restaurants, would be out of use on Friday and Saturday, along with several of its bar areas.
The couple enjoyed a pre-wedding getaway with Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, 16, with Georgina sharing beach photographs on Instagram this week. Georgina and Ronaldo have two daughters together, Alana and Bella, and welcomed twins Eva Maria and Mateo through surrogacy. Bella had a twin brother, Angel, who died shortly after birth.
Ronaldo's ties to Funchal
Funchal is Ronaldo's hometown and birthplace. The city has a bronze statue in his honor and a hotel named after him.
Ronaldo, whose net worth is estimated at between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion, grew up in poverty in Funchal and shared a room with all of his siblings. He left home at the age of 11 to join Sporting Lisbon.
