New photos of American actress Anne Hathaway wearing a full-body wetsuit in the coastal town of Saint-Tropez on the French Riviera have sparked comment and debate over the double standards which Muslim women have to endure when they wear similar clothing in France.

The Oscar-winning actress, who announced her third pregnancy earlier this month, has been sporting many looks on her holiday with her husband.

However, it was her long-sleeved, full-length tie-dye patterned wet suit that caught the attention of many, who compared it to modest swimwear that many Muslim women choose to wear.

Many commentators took to social media to decry “double standards”, with Hathaway’s choice of dress at the beach accepted and praised while Muslim women who wear the hijab and full-coverage swimwear are often turned away from public pools and beaches.

She pointed out that often, Muslim women are forced to travel to another country in order to wear modest swimsuits freely, noting that many women in France don’t have that option.

“So here we are: Applauding a celebrity for covering her body in France, while Muslim women are still questioned, excluded, or restricted for doing the very same thing…Same fabric. Different headlines. One woman is called inspiring. The other is called oppressed,” she added.

France banned the hijab from public schools in March 2004, while prayers are prohibited in French educational spaces. Many Muslim women who wear the hijab in France also face challenges when it comes to finding employment.

Last year, Amnesty International said France’s hijab ban in all sports would violate human rights and unfairly target Muslim women.