Heather Rae El Moussa is not allowing mom-shamers to get her down.
The 37-year-old HGTV star, who is married to Tarek El Moussa, is a mother to their son Tristan, who is 1. She's also the stepmother to Tarek's children with his former wife, Christina Hall–Taylor, 14, and Brayden, 9.
On Christmas Eve, Heather shared several photos on social media from what seemed to be a holiday party. She was with Tarek, Tristan, Brayden, and several others, wearing a daring red dress made mainly of fishnet and lace.
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While many praised her look, calling the dress beautiful, she also received some negative comments. One fan wrote, "When I grow up, I want to look like Heather! She’s so pretty!" Another added, "I’m so glad you’re wearing that dress. This is what taking care of your body and working hard looks like."
However, some critics argued that the dress was too bold for a mom. One person commented, "Dress looks like more for the bedroom!" while another said, "The dress? Really and as a mother of a little boy!"
Another critical comment read, "The dress is not appropriate. Your [sic] a mother now," to which Heather replied, "So because I'm a mother I can't wear a pretty dress that makes me feel beautiful? What does that have to do with anything? I'm still a human and my name is Heather. I'm not just a mother. Choose joy."
Heather even shared a screenshot of this exchange on her Instagram story, adding, "Comments like this make me laugh. I don't even get offended anymore by the rudeness of others. I choose to spread joy not hate."
In response to someone commenting on her resemblance to Christina Hall, saying, "She looks just like Christine he has a type." Heather jokingly replied, "her name is Christina. Ya most do have a type…," with a laughing emoji.
Heather isn't one to shy away from addressing her follower's comments. On Thanksgiving, she shared an Instagram post of herself celebrating the holiday with Tarek, Tristan and Brayden.
Tarek's daughter and Heather's stepdaughter Taylor, 14, was absent from the family photos, and Heather was quick to tell "the haters" why in the caption of the carousel.
"For the haters - Tay is on a trip with her mom, that's why she's not in our photo," Heather wrote at the end of the post's caption.
Tarek shares Taylor and Brayden with his ex-wife, Christina Haack.
In an interview with Fox News Digital in September, Heather talked about her and Tarek's relationship with Christina after the former couple's 2016 breakup. They have partnered with Christina for a new HGTV show "The Flip Off," set to debut in January.
"I feel like we've all come a long way," Heather said. "We've been together 5½ years, married almost three. And everyone's in a really good place right now. And we're just having a really good time filming the show and competing against each other."
Heather admitted that while the show has been stressful at times, it has also been enjoyable. "We have a lot of laughs, and we're going to kick her butt."
Heather and Tarek mainly film together for the show, but they do have segments with Christina, which, according to Tarek, have been very competitive.
"I think people are very excited about 'The Flip Off' because, obviously, you have exes working together again after they were on 'Flip or Flop' for so long," Heather noted. "It's been like a fun, friendly competition."
