American model Emily Ratajkowski, who rose to popularity after starring in Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” music video in 2013, has crafted a collection of twelve essays that focus solely on her body. The book, entitled My Body, was released in November 2021. From the beginning, Ratajkowski makes it clear that her body is her source of income and livelihood. It’s given her a job since she was fourteen years old, provided her with lavish vacations on someone else’s dime, paid for her house in L.A., and granted her the position to publish a book of her own.
Ratajkowski wrote this book to take charge of her narrative. She tells us that she is not sorry for being photographed nude or gaining celebrity status based on her body; rather, she’s proud of it. “I was proud to have built a life and career off my body,” Ratajkowski writes. “All women are objectified and sexualized to some degree, I figured, so I might as well do it on my own terms.”
Many of her essays dabble with the complex relationship between a woman’s modesty and sexualization. Ratajkowski expresses her desires throughout her career to be taken seriously, as someone more than a beautiful face and an envy-worthy body, but wonders if it’s not happening due to her career. In her essay, “Bc Hello Halle Berry,” Ratajkowski considers an actor and model she previously knew. The model eventually tried to change her public image to be taken more seriously.
“I watched Rachel’s transformation over the years via Instagram,” she writes. “The turtle neck dress seemed like a culmination: no more sexy stuff for her. Is that the way to be taken seriously? I wondered. Covering up your body and dressing like you’re going to see the Queen of England? Would this ensure a career with longevity? Maybe, but it didn’t seem fair that she should have to start wearing sweaters and dyeing her hair brown to be considered serious.”
“Bc Hello Halle Berry” is one of the many ways Ratajkowski ponders various difficult aspects of her life and career without coming to any solid conclusions. She states in her introduction, “The purpose of this book is not to arrive at answers, but to honestly explore ideas I can’t help but return to.” It felt refreshing to read essays that leave the reader still curious while being satisfied with the ideas provided.
The idea Ratajkowski continuously comes back to throughout the book is how feminism plays into her career. After the “Blurred Lines” music video rose in popularity, many claimed she was anti-feminist by dancing around topless. Before reading this book, I slightly sided with that perspective as well, but Ratajkowski states in her response to reporters that she “didn’t see it that way. I was secure in my body and nakedness on set.” As I thought about the model’s response and her continuous reminder throughout the book that she chose to participate in every shoot, I’m ashamed to think that a woman doing what she wants (either to make money or for pleasure) is anti-feminism. It’s the opposite. But it feels that many people don’t agree with Ratajkowski’s capitalization on her body.
I consider Sarah Nicole Landry, the woman being the Instagram account @thebirdspapaya. Landry’s career and account are based on her body. Other than her white skin, Landry doesn’t look very similar to Ratajkowski. Her legs boast stretch marks and her belly is far from tight, but she also often posts with minimal clothing on, like Ratajkowski. Even though Landry is posting her bare body to promote a wider acceptance of different body shapes, she is still doing the same as Ratajkowski: capitalizing on her body and earning followers (and money through sponsored ads) into the millions. However, many view Landry’s work as feminist while Ratajkowsi’s anti-feminist and I can’t help but think their work is virtually no different than the other.
Unlike many other celebrity memoirs which feel shallow and barely written by themselves, this essay collection contained vulnerable and intimate moments in Ratajkowski’s life and opened the reader to a broader perspective of being proud of one’s body. This is worth the read.
