Said she posted the photo by accident as she is new to Snapchat

A glamorous Playboy model has come under fire on social media after fat shaming a naked woman in the gym by posting a photo of her on Snapchat.

Dani Mathers, 29, from Los Angeles, shared the image of the unsuspecting woman on her Story along with a photo of her face with her hand over her mouth with the caption: 'If I can't unsee this then you can't either!'

However, Dani, who was crowned Playmate Of The Year 2015, quickly deleted the image and apologised for her actions after sparking a huge backlash.

Dani Mathers, 29, from Los Angeles, shared the image of the unsuspecting woman on her Story along with a photo of her face with her hand over her mouth with the caption: 'If I can't unsee this then you can't either!'

Slamming her actions on Twitter, Hollie Taylor wrote: '@DaniMathers it's people like you that make others feel uneasy about changing openly in locker rooms. appalling.'

While Priscilla Sanchez added: '@DaniMathers that poor woman's naked body is now circulating the internet when she never intended it to. It's really heartbreaking.'

The Random Man tweeted: 'You owe that girl an apology!'

Bonnie Reynolds wrote: 'Stop. You aren't sorry you did it, you're sorry you got caught and are getting blasted.'

Caya Hefner, Dani Mathers, Crystal Hefner, Carly Lauren, Amanda Vanderpool with Joanna Krupa and Marta Krupa in 2014

Dani, who was crowned Playmate Of The Year 2015, quickly deleted the image and apologised for her actions after sparking a huge backlash

Holly Taylor added: 'im grossed out you would post a photo of a naked woman's body in a locker room saying "you can't unsee this" wow.'

Police Sausager said: 'This woman was at a m***********g GYM, the hell you looking at her body like it's deplorable?'

Dani, who has 553,000 followers on Instagram, more than one million on Facebook and 75,100 on Twitter, was believed to have posted the picture after a workout session in LA Fitness Universal City.

She shared the following message in a video on her Snapchat Story: 'I just want to acknowledge a photo that I accidentally posted.

'It was absolutely wrong and not what I meant to do.

'I chose to do what I do for a living because I love the female body and I know body shaming is wrong, that's not what I'm about and this is not the type of person I am.

'The photo was taken as part of a personal conversation with a girlfriend and because I am new to Snapchat I didn't realise I had posted it, and that was a huge mistake.

'I know I have upset a lot of people out there but please believe me this is not the type of person that I am. I have never done this before and I will never do this again, you have my word.'

The model deleted the image and took to Snapchat once more to state how sorry she is about her mistake

Dani took to Twitter to apologise, writing in separate tweets

She also posted a Facebook message of apology - which has now been deleted - including a plea for forgiveness.

'Women make my world go round, I have nothing short of respect for women, I surround myself with women and work hard at empowering our community... and I completely understand how terrible this was and is.

'Please please know how upset I am with myself for this and take my word that it won't happen again.

'I love and appreciate every one of you and know that everyone is beautiful in their own way, that's what makes us all so special.

'I can't undo this mistake, although I would give anything to, but I ask your forgiveness.

'This has truly made me realize that some of the things that we do or say can seem silly in the moment or in (in this case,what was meant to be) a private conversation, aren't necessary.

'All I've done here is spread negativity and hatred when that isn't who I am or what I've ever been about.'

Alana Campos, Michelle McLaughlin, Raquel Pomplun, Ashley Doris, Dani Mathers and Hiromi Oshim in 2015

Dani took to Twitter to apologise, writing in separate tweets

And Dani took to Twitter to apologise, writing in separate tweets: 'I want to acknowledge my post from snapchat earlier. There is no excuse...I understand fully the magnitude of this post and that I have hurt...

'A lot of people, women. Body shaming is not okay, and is nothing to joke about... This was meant to be a part of a private conversation that...

'Never should have happened. There are no words to describe how deeply sorry I am for hurting and offending you all. Women make my world go...

I'm sorry for what I did... I need to take some time to myself now to reflect on why I did this horrible thing. Goodnight

'Around, I respect women, I surround myself with women and I completely understand the magnitude of this post. Please please please know...

'How upset I am with myself and take my word that this won't happen again. I love and appreciate every one of you and know that everyone...

'Is beautiful in their own way... That's what makes us all so special... I can't undo this mistake, but I ask your forgiveness...

'This mistake has truly made me realize that something that can seem silly in a private conversation isn't unnecessary. All I've done here is...

'Spread negativity and hate when that isn't who I am. I chose to model because I appreciate women and their bodies, so me of all people...

'Should never make light of another woman's naked body.'

She ended her apology with: 'I'm sorry for what I did... I need to take some time to myself now to reflect on why I did this horrible thing. Goodnight.'

Others on Twitter were sympathetic and defended Dani's actions

Others on Twitter were sympathetic and defended Dani's actions.

Gary G wrote: 'Dani...its ok...'

Sabrina Lynn added: 'You guys act like you've never once made a mistake. @DaniMathers Your character shines way brighter than this one mistake, shake it off.'

Erick Cruz added: 'If you kept it private you'd never admit to what you did and no apology would exist.'

LA-based producer and editor Brianna Gardner, who saw the post on her friend's Snapchat, told MailOnline: 'It's bad enough that women have to deal with rape culture on a daily basis.

'But to be violated on such a humiliating and visceral level, by one of our own - is so incredibly disappointing. This is just about the cruelest, meanest thing a woman could do to another woman.

'The victim is at the gym, trying to better herself, in a place that should be a safe place, and this Playmate with tremendous social influence and privilege took it upon herself to shame her in the grossest and most violating of ways.'

She added: 'I was bullied for a greater part of my childhood so when I see an adult acting in such a deplorable way I do my best to stand up for their victims. I'm in a group of over 4,000 women in LA that build each other up, and fight against all the sexist behavior we come across, usually from men. How sad that we not have to defend ourselves against women too.'

Dani rose to Playboy fame after being named Playboy's Miss January 2013. She has since taken part in various photo shoots and advertising campaigns.

Since 2005, she has appeared in US soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.

Speaking previously about her upbringing, Mathers said: 'I'm from a big Jewish-Italian family. I was brought up playing in the mud, cheer leading and playing volleyball.'