In March 2018, Mark Consuelos posted a beach photo of his wife, Kelly Ripa, wearing a bikini, captioning it simply, “The sexy one.”  The post immediately ignited an online debate: some praised her confidence and body positivity at age 47, while others harshly criticized the image as “inappropriate” for a woman her age and accused her of seeking attention.hysique and self-assurance, calling her “inspiring” and “gorgeous.” Meanwhile, critics questioned the social norms around age and appearance, asking if there should be a cutoff age for wearing revealing attire—even on the beach.

Consuelos quickly jumped to her defense. In his comment on the post, he wrote that the image was a tribute to his wife—the woman he admires—highlighting her hard work, healthy lifestyle, and strength. He addressed the critics bluntly, saying:

“Yes she’s wearing a bikini at age 47 … If that offends you … get over it and get used to it.”

On the talk show Watch What Happens Live, the couple reflected on the backlash. Consuelos called the reaction “bizarre” and questioned what else a person “is supposed to wear at the beach.”  Ripa echoed his confusion: “I don’t know what I’m supposed to wear … I wasn’t in synagogue, I was at the beach.”

Through humor and solidarity, they pushed back on the double standards facing women. Their exchanges—both in comments and during interviews—underscored that women’s choices about their bodies often draw unfair scrutiny, especially when aging is involved. Over time, many fans rallied to their side, supporting the idea that confidence and self‑expression shouldn’t be limited by age.