Felix Upton on November 3, 2025
Ash by Elegance has never shied away from turning heads on social media, but now the TNA star is dealing with the consequences of Instagram’s content moderation system—and she’s sounding the alarm for other women in wrestling.
The former WWE Superstar, now one of TNA’s standout names, revealed on her Instagram Stories that she was hit with a shadow ban. According to her, several of her posts were flagged by Instagram—not just thirst traps, but also standard wrestling photos that were anything but explicit.
She didn’t hold back in her warning to other women in the business.
“Way to start a Monday!! Woke up to see that I have been shadow banned… Ladies, more than likely your photos have been too! Even my wrestling photos were flagged.”
Ash’s story reflects a growing frustration among female athletes, especially in combat sports, who are penalized by algorithms that don’t seem to differentiate between professional and provocative. With nine posts flagged in total, it’s clear Instagram’s filters aren’t working in her favor—and possibly not in favor of other women in the industry either.
The situation brings to light a bigger conversation about how social media platforms moderate content from women in sports. For performers like Ash by Elegance, who use platforms like Instagram to engage fans and build their brand, being shadow banned can affect visibility, sponsorships, and business.
Ash’s message wasn’t just about her—it was a call to attention for others who might not even know they’re being silenced online.
Let’s hope Instagram re-evaluates its approach, especially when it comes to the content of hardworking athletes just doing their job.
What do you think about social media moderation flagging women’s wrestling content as explicit? Should platforms be doing more to distinguish between performance and policy violations? Drop your thoughts below—we want to hear from you.
November 3, 2025 9:58 am
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