Chontel Duncan: Instagram fitness trainer responds to 'cruel' comments about working out during pregnancy

Duncan was hit by remarks criticising her slim frame and accusing her of being 'selfish' for training while pregnant

(Chontel Duncan training )

A former Miss Universe finalist and high-intensity trainer has criticised the “cruel comments” from strangers accusing her of being unhealthy after sharing a picture of her toned stomach and posts about working out through her pregnancy.

Chontel Duncan shared an image of her small stomach next to a friend, who was four weeks further into her pregnancy and much bigger, to prove how women carry to full term differently.

The fitness trainer and blogger has also shared a number of pictures of herself working out during her pregnancy with her 365,000 followers.

In a post on Monday, Duncan said she was left in a state of disbelief by some of the comments about her decision to exercise while pregnant, insisting that people “underestimate” the female body.

“It's hard to believe how cruel some of these comments can be," she wrote. "I may not read every comment, every article, every message but for the ones I have briefly read it just blows my mind that someone whom I do not know, whom I've never had any form of connection with could have so much anger and hate towards me as I carry my first child.

“I’ve spent many years looking after my health and the health of others to the best of my ability and now I am continuing to focus on my health and, more importantly, the health of my unborn child's under the strict instructions of the best health professionals and openly share my journey.

“What's sad is how sheltered so many are on what is and what isn't healthy. Regardless, I am so confident in the team that support my journey and so in tune with my body that it does not discourage me and make me feel the need to sit down, stuff a burger down my throat, become bed ridden and live in a bubble. What they are so shocked about is just a fraction of what is so normal to me. It's safe to say there are people out there that underestimate the female body.”