A cursory glance through EmRata’s (short for Emily Ratajkowski) Instagram is like scrolling through a silent revolution. From posing nude for campaigns across the globe to shutting down haters with snide remarks, the model has made a strong case for being a fearless, bold woman. “It’s just about the ability to choose to be whatever kind of woman you want to be, to live whatever kind of life you want, to dress however you want, whether it be in a burka or a bikini,” she shared in a statement and might we say, she swears by it.
In a world that is yet grappling with balancing equality between two genders, Emily has helmed a new wave of feminism. The American supermodel rarely holds back to shut down the patriarchy, and we’re here for it. From safeguarding her friends against criticism to empowering women across the globe through body positivity, Emily is unstoppable and here’s proof.
The Famous ‘Buying Myself Back’ Essay
‘When does a model own her own image,’ was a question raised by Emily in her popular essay that trended worldwide. The incident traces back to an image of her for a sports magazine in 2014, which was picked up by Richard Prince, an artist. Prince morphed the image of Emily with comments and converted it into a canvas. And that was not it; he did the same for a number of people across Instagram for his artistic series called ‘New Portraits.’
Of course, Emily had to rise to the occasion. The model purchased the original canvas from Prince for about USD 81,000. Later, she shot a photo of herself in front of this canvas and converted it into an NFT, which was auctioned for USD 140,000 at Christie’s in May last year. Yes, she literally ‘bought’ herself back.
Empowerment Through Body Positivity
Emily practically breathes and lives in swimwear, and now she wants others to give in to it too. Through her swimwear fashion line Inamorata, which was launched in 2017, the model has been encouraging women to own their bodies. With the help of this brand, Emily is trying to “reject the tired old myths about body image” and is pushing women to embrace “the full spectrum of the female form.”
Selfie To Support And Shut Down
When Kim Kardashian was criticised for a nude bathroom selfie, Emily joined the scene to shut the haters down. Coming to Kim’s support, both the friends posed topless for a mirror selfie which Emily posted to blast the criticisers in the name of female liberation. “However sexual our bodies may be, we need to have the freedom as women to choose when and how we express our sexuality,” she wrote in the caption. Soon, the selfie went viral for being emblematic of new generation feminism that garnered global backing.
Her Upcoming New Book
The model is currently writing and gathering all of her experiences in a collection of personal essays for a book that is slated to be published in 2022. Titled My Body, the book will explore how women are treated in today’s world and how they are often seen as a commodity.
A Feminist Magazine
It’s no secret that Emily’s Instagram is a collection of imagery that ranges from ball gowns, swimwear and multiple provocative, skin-baring images in between. Referring to her feed as a “feminist magazine”, she shared in a statement, “It’s supposed to be a freedom of choice. And I believe in sexuality. I think it’s a wonderful thing, and, if anything, I want women to understand their own sexuality outside of a patriarchal male gaze. We’re the core of sexual beings, and I think that’s something that should be celebrated rather than attacked.” Fighting the male gaze with on-purpose controversial imagery? She’s mastered it.
Photographs: Instagram
