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Millie Bobby Brown is taking a stand against the relentless scrutiny over her appearance, calling out the deeper systemic and ageist mindset.

The Stranger Things star, now 21, has addressed a wave of online criticism from trolls accusing her of “ageing so badly” and journalists writing comment pieces about how she looks now, compared to how she looked when she was a child.

Brown turned the conversation towards the larger issue of how society polices young women and how child actors, who grow up in the public eye, are put under the microscope.

“I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me,” Brown said in a video posted to her Instagram. “Something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny.”

Brown reflected on her early rise to fame, reminding people that she was only 10 when she entered the industry. By the time she landed her breakout role as Eleven on Stranger Things, she was in the public eye full-time. However, as she has grown up, she has noticed an unsettling pattern — many people refuse to accept that she is no longer a child.

“I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me,” she said. “Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things season one. And because I don’t, I’m now a target.”

While internet trolls have been vocal, the actor pointed out that mainstream media has also been complicit in the scrutiny. Brown recalled multiple articles dissecting her face, with headlines questioning what work she had “done” or why she was “ageing so badly.”

“This isn’t journalism. This is bullying,” she said firmly. “The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices — it’s disturbing. The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse.”

Brown previously clapped back at similar remarks during the premiere of her upcoming film The Electric State in February. But this time, she made it clear that the issue goes beyond just her — it’s a symptom of a culture that struggles to accept women growing up on their own terms.

“We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when the time comes, it seems easier to tear them down for clicks,” she said, per E News. “Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs.”

Brown’s powerful response is a stark reminder of the impossible standards placed on young women in the public eye. By speaking out, she’s challenging the narrative—and urging people to rethink the way they discuss women’s appearances in the media.