Determined to stay in the spotlight, Victoria’s Secret recently had one of its longtime “angels,” model Jasmine Tookes, open its runway show while nine months pregnant. As someone who has given birth myself, my first thought was, “Finally! A pregnant woman I can relate to.” Just kidding—my real reaction was concern for her ankles, followed by the hope that one day the modeling industry will fix its hiring problems, because only a staffing shortage could justify having a heavily pregnant woman on the job.
Still, body image and pregnancy have been on my mind lately. Giving birth is a strange experience. We all exist because someone did it, yet what women go through—mentally and physically—remains less understood than, say, Liz Truss losing to a lettuce. Even though those of us who’ve had babies know, logically, that what we did was miraculous and something to be proud of, we still wrestle with how it changes our bodies.
Maybe seeing more pregnant and postpartum bodies in the media would be a step forward for women. But I’d hoped we’d have learned by now that we need more than just images of attractive mums—glamorous, wealthy, thin women whose pregnancies seem like neat little bumps rather than total physical transformations. Hasn’t this been done enough? Demi Moore posed nude while pregnant back in 1991, after all.
Of course, it’s foolish to expect Victoria’s Secret—or any anti-union clothing brand—to be socially progressive. When brands use empowerment to promote themselves, we should remember Homer Simpson’s words: “Hey! Just because I don’t care, doesn’t mean I don’t understand.”
Coco Khan is a freelance writer and co-host of the politics podcast Pod Save the UK.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and concise FAQs about the topic of pregnant celebrities and their public image
Frequently Asked Questions
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q1 What is this topic even about
A Its about noticing that famous pregnant women in magazines and on social media often look incredibly polished stylish and seem to have a perfect pregnancy which can feel different from the average persons experience
Q2 Why does it seem like every pregnant celebrity looks flawless
A They have access to a full team of professionals including personal stylists makeup artists personal trainers nutritionists and photographers who use flattering lighting and angles Their images are also often edited
Q3 Is it bad that I dont look like that during my pregnancy
A Not at all What you see is a curated highlight reel Most people experience normal pregnancy symptoms like fatigue bloating and acne that simply arent featured in glamorous photo shoots
Q4 Whats the harm in seeing these perfect pregnancy images
A It can create unrealistic expectations and make people feel insecure or like their own pregnancy journey is inadequate or less beautiful
Advanced Practical Questions
Q5 What are some common behind the scenes tricks used to create this flawless look
A Common tricks include strategic tailoring of clothes to flatter a baby bump shapewear professional hair and makeup to combat pregnancy fatigue and photos being taken during the often more comfortable second trimester
Q6 Are there any benefits to this trend of glamorous pregnancies
A Yes it can help celebrate and normalize pregnancy as a beautiful and powerful part of life moving away from it being hidden It can also inspire fun maternity fashion ideas
Q7 How can I manage my feelings if these images make me feel bad about my own pregnancy
A Actively follow social media accounts that show realistic pregnancies Remind yourself that these are advertisements or curated moments not reality Focus on what your body is accomplishing which is amazing regardless of how it looks
Q8 Can you give an example of a more realistic portrayal of pregnancy
