Chloe Pink felt beautiful on her wedding day. Then came the comments.

Chloe and Toby Pink don't have an official 'how we met' story. There's no meet-cute or love at first sight moment. Instead, it's a love story just as beautiful — a 'meant to be' romance that blossomed after years of friendship.  

"I actually don't remember when we first met, because we grew up together in a small country town," Chloe told Mamamia. 

"Our families played sports together, we played sports together, and our brothers did too. So there's no specific moment – we've just always known each other. We were really good friends as children."

Watch: Lucy Klemt shares why she regrets losing weight for her wedding. Article continues after the video.

Over the years, Toby, an AFL player for the North Melbourne Football Club, would ask Chloe to be his girlfriend, but she'd always say no. Until one day, she didn't. 

"And now we've been together for nearly eight years. He calls me his childhood sweetheart, which is really cute," Chloe said.

Chloe always believed she'd know if Toby was going to pop the question. Then, last October, she got a feeling. The couple were preparing to move house and were heading on a short break away before the AFL season kicked off again.

Chloe and Toby Pink grew up together. Image: Supplied.

"I even quizzed my best friend the week before, asking if he had it [the ring], and she said no. And I know when she's lying – but she was telling the truth, so I believed her," Chloe recalled.

But as the sun started to set on Friday, October 25, last year, Toby said, "Do you know what would make this weekend ever better? If you were my fiance."

"I don't remember anything after that," Chloe said. "I completely blacked out. He got down on one knee and proposed, but I just froze."

After her initial shock, it was a 'yes' from Chloe. With footy season approaching, Chloe and Toby decided to book their wedding at the Marriage Registry, leaving the bride-to-be just a few months to get organised. 

The couple married in front of their parents and two best friends. Image: Supplied.

"The day itself was perfect. I spent the morning getting ready with our families," she said.

"It was just Toby, me, our two best friends and our parents at the registry. The room was so full of love – I can't describe the feeling. It was so intimate, so beautiful."

Chloe looked stunning in a custom-made d'Italia Couture long-sleeved dress. 

"I always knew I wanted something long-sleeved, plain and elegant," she said. "A friend recommended d'Italia, where you design the dress, and they sketch it up and make it to suit your shape. I loved the whole experience – it was exactly what I wanted, and I felt beautiful."

Like most newlyweds, Chloe was excited to post her gorgeous photographs online. With Toby in the public eye, she knew there might be the odd negative comment or two, but mostly Chloe was expecting an outpouring of love and congratulations. 

What happened next was devastating. Chloe received a barrage of disgusting comments, mostly from men, about her body and appearance. 

"I wasn't prepared for how many there were, or how vile they were. They weren't just your standard 'you're fat' comments – some of the things people wrote were disgusting," she said.

"I don't even know how someone's brain comes up with that," Chloe said. "It felt like there were more hateful comments than congratulations."

Chloe was bombarded with hateful comments after posting her wedding photos. Image: Supplied.

At first, Chloe told herself it was all part of being married to someone in the public eye, especially an AFL player whose wives and girlfriends are often fodder for online commentary. But, she couldn't shake the horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. 

"It's not healthy for my brain to take in that much hate, especially about my body – something I have very little control over," she said.

"It doesn't matter that I'm married to an AFL player. I still have feelings. Being in the public eye doesn't make it hurt less."

Chloe spent the next week in tears, and found herself unable to move on. So, she wrote her feelings down and made a video. Initially, she had no plans to post it anywhere — it was more like a journal for herself, to process her feelings. Then, on the spur of the moment, she posted it to TikTok.

@chloepinkk

Just a glimpse of the awful comments left on what was a beautiful article about mine and Toby’s wedding. It’s honestly not OK. The comments were so vile and disgusting that they had to be deleted, and eventually, the comments were turned off completely. All because I don’t fit the typical “WAG” mould. Being married to a professional athlete does not give anyone the right to comment on my body or size. My weight is influenced by underlying health conditions - though frankly, that’s no one’s business, and it shouldn’t matter either way. It’s exhausting that women are still judged like this. Being the wife of an AFL player doesn’t mean I owe the world a particular body type. My husband loves me for who I am - and god forbid a professional athlete chooses to marry the woman he loves for who she is and not her appearance.

♬ What Was I Made For? [From The Motion Picture "Barbie"] - Billie Eilish

"I didn't tell Toby. I just drafted a TikTok and posted it. I thought maybe 5,000 people would see it – friends and family," she said.

In the video, Chloe shared some of the worst comments and hit back at the people who took the time to post them.

After she posted the video, Chloe took a bath to decompress. When she checked her phone, she discovered just how much her words had resonated with others.

"Then I had a bath, came back, and said to Toby, 'My TikTok's gone viral!'. He was like 'What TikTok?' Then our phones started blowing up. It was totally unexpected," she said.

Despite being anxious and feeling "physically sick" about speaking publicly about her experience, Chloe decided to use her newfound platform to try to drive positive change. 

"Silence is permission," she said. "If we let people get away with it, it just continues for the next person, the next generation."

"I feel physically sick at the thought of it. But I've realised I have a platform now, and I want to make something positive out of it."

Toby Pink says more men, including himself, need to speak publicly against this type of behaviour. Image: Supplied.

Despite always supporting Chloe, the experience has made Toby rethink his role in helping change the broader culture.

"He's been amazing – so supportive and protective – but he's also said that men need to do more to call this stuff out publicly. Not just in private. We need that visibility and accountability from everyone, not just women," Chloe said.

Chloe says she's had parents reach out to thank her for helping to prompt a dialogue about bullying and the impact of words, especially online. 

"Even if it only sparks one parent to speak more kindly about their body in front of their kids, or one man to call out misogynistic behaviour, or one footy player to check another – that's something," Chloe said.

"I know I'm just one small voice on a much bigger issue, but if I can help spark even one change, it's worth it."

Feature image: Supplied.