Story By: Juan Fenandez Mayes,  Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

This beautiful Mexican politician and beauty pageant winner has responded to criticism of a recent snap showing her wearing a sports bra on top of a volcano.

Mexican federal deputy Maria Geraldine Ponce Mendez, 26, came under criticism for a picture she posted for her army of 191,000 Instagram followers on 23rd November.

The image shows Geraldine Ponce, as she is commonly known, standing on top of a summit at Sanganguey Volcano located in the Mexican state of Nayarit which she represents in the Chamber of Deputies.

She is seen holding her shirt up in the air while wearing a red sports bra.

Geraldine was praised by several followers for both her beauty and work as a politician, however she was also subjected to sexist comments by some netizens.

‘SethMario’ wrote: “Maybe she will surprise us with a thong picture in 2021.”

‘Martindh6711’ said: “The federal deputy sure is tasty, delicious. Beautiful woman, wonderful figure. Best if she dedicates herself to modelling.”

‘Glamourivonee’ commented: “Change your job and dedicate yourself to modelling, posing, and dancing in nightclubs, but stop receiving payment every fortnight as a deputy. There are many serious problems in the state that must be attended to.”

Following the backlash, Geraldine later issued a statement on 28th November.

She said: “I’ve realised my picture on the summit of Sanganguey Volcano, symbol of the city of Tepic, has caused some controversy.

“I just want to say two things regarding this photo, I will never stop exercising my freedom of speech because of my gender and nobody should.

“And the world would be a better place if there weren’t so many sexist men and women. Many of us have fought to eradicate and make gender violence visible to protect women from speech that denigrates us.”

She added: “PS. It was a sports bra, not a brassier.”

Geraldine has held her position in the Mexican Government since 2018 and will serve until 2021. She represents the Morena Party (National Regeneration Movement) which is politically left wing.

She also won the beauty pageant Nuestra Beleza Nayarit (Our Beauty Nayarit) in 2015 and was second runner-up at the Nuestra Belleza Mexico (Our Beauty Mexico) the following year.

Ponce Mendez was also voted among the top 15 contestants at the Miss International 2016 contest.

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