11 Mar 16
essay . kim kardashian . shaina

Kim Kardashian and THAT Selfie: Why So Important?




Kim Kardashian, an industry powerhouse known to the modern world for her fashion influence and entrepreneur status as well as her marriage to rap mogul Kanye West. This week; as usual, all eyes were on Kim -  but with the post of a naked selfie an immediate media frenzy ensued.

Criticism and acclaims have been flooding in about that selfie - is she using feminism as a publicity stunt? Should we just get over it? Or is this a feminist stand needed in 2016?

 Even the legendary Bette Midler took to twitter to express how she felt about the star's body positive post:


Kardashian hit back, with claims that Bette Midler was 'fake' and had tried being friendly with her in the past, even sending gifts. 

 It seems the overwhelming concern is that Kim K should show women that they have more to offer than their bodies as actress Chloe Grace Moretz (I did know who she was, sorry Kim) put in tweets directed at the star,
With this tweet came one of the best celebrity responses seen since twitters release in 2006,

Kim, as the kids say; ‘dragged' her - pin pointing to her 41.6m twitter followers just what she thinks about critics.

Her selfie has inspired many to talk about body positivity and the way women’s naked bodies are seen as an insult when shown. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Kim K has come under fire for her naked body; with her blog post criticising those still bringing up THAT sex tape released 13 years ago (I know, I feel old too).
Kim posted the selfie with the caption ‘when you have nothing to wear LOL’ - admittedly not sounding like a typical body positive post, but does it have to? Treating nudity as a normal, acceptable part of life without an essay attached could be the step in the right direction we need to normalize the feminine form without backlash for wearing the skin we’re born in.
Many celebrities have responded kindly to the tweet however, with some going as far as recreating the image. Sharon Osbourne took to Twitter and Instagram to show her support, as well as her body.
 
Mrs O went on to say that is made her feel “quite liberated”, and I for one love that her and others like her have taken to twitter to express body positivity. Good for you Shaz, good for you.

Some may say it is easy for Kim to release such a selfie with many makeup artists and hair stylists attached to her to make her so damn camera ready all the time, but that isn’t the point and with people of all ages, shapes and sizes copying Kardashian there is inspiration for everybody. Beauty in it's naked form is what counts and with her posts comes confidence something that we all can learn from. I’m not expecting everybody to start posting naked selfies on Facebook for their grandma to see (but if you want to, you do you boo) but I think we can all learn something from this.

 “Hey, guys. I wanted to write a post elaborating on my tweets last night. In all seriousness, I never understand why people get so bothered by what other people choose to do with their lives.
I don’t do drugs, I hardly drink, I’ve never committed a crime—and yet I’m a bad role model for being proud of my body?
It always seems to come back around to my sex tape. Yes, a sex tape that was made 13 years ago. 13 YEARS AGO. Literally that lonnng ago. And people still want to talk about it?!?!
I lived through the embarrassment and fear, and decided to say who cares, do better, move on. I shouldn’t have to constantly be on the defense, listing off my accomplishments just to prove that I am more than something that happened 13 years ago.
Let’s move on, already. I have.
I am empowered by my body. I am empowered by my sexuality. I am empowered by feeling comfortable in my skin. I am empowered by showing the world my flaws and not being afraid of what anyone is going to say about me. And I hope that through this platform I have been given, I can encourage the same empowerment for girls and women all over the world.
I am empowered by my husband, who is so accepting and supportive and who has given me a newfound confidence in myself. He allows me to be me and loves me unconditionally.
I feel so lucky to have grown up surrounded by strong, driven, independent women. The life lessons I’ve learned from my sisters, my mother and my grandmother, I will pass along to my daughter. I want her to be proud of who she is. I want her to be comfortable in her body. I don’t want her to grow up in a world where she is made to feel less-than for embracing everything it means to be a woman.
It’s 2016. The body-shaming and slut-shaming—it’s like, enough is enough. I will not live my life dictated by the issues you have with my sexuality. You be you and let me be me.
I am a mother. I am a wife, a sister, a daughter, an entrepreneur and I am allowed to be sexy.
#happyinternationalwomensday”


Kardashian’s posts coincided with March 8th - #Internationalwomensday, showing those celebrating that we are powerful, we deserve to be listened to and showing those that don’t listen that this is what it’s all about. Being able to do what we want to do without fear of judgement, as women, as feminists; as people.




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