“Hot Facebook Mom” is no longer a joke. Maria Kang, who rose to short-lived internet fame after posting the infamous “What’s your excuse?” photo on Facebook, has helped found the “No Excuses Moms Movement”.

The movement has over 700 groups of moms all over the nations, and internationally, that meet for free exercise at local parks and other spaces.

Kang was on the bad end of some serious heat after posting this picture to Facebook:

She was accused of boasting, fat-shaming, and many other sins. Some of the criticism grew serious during a scuffle with “real women” campaign supporters out of California.

“We have a health issue in America with over 2/3 overweight or obese,” and a “healthcare crisis,” and a “childhood obesity issue. We need to change this strange mentality we are breeding in the U.S. and start celebrating people who are a result of hard work, dedication and discipline. I’m not bashing those who are proud and overweight, I am empowering those who are proud and healthy to come out and be the real role models in our society.”

Well, she has certainly been successful in that aspiration. The women who meet at the groups she has started are ready to get healthier for their families and their future. The ladies truly have no excuses, which is the point. They meet at free locations and use body weight and gravity to do their workouts, no equipment required. Children are even encouraged to attend.

“I feel like all the backlash was worth it,” Kang tells Yahoo. “I feel like my original image and message sparked an international dialogue that woke people up and made them question their excuses. I’ve always stood my ground that my intention was to inspire — and I have —and it’s exciting.”

Like her or hate her, she has used the (sometimes truly hateful) backlash from her stand against obesity to inspire and help many women who are ready for a change. In my book, that’s pretty admirable.

Image via Facebook