As kids, we were taught that motherhood is noble and even aspirational. So how come the natural changes to mom bods are criticized and breastfeeding is taboo? Here’s a list of celebrity moms who are trying to change the culture of mom shaming by sharing these powerful photos.
Halsey
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First on our list is Halsey whose upcoming album and statement film “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power” is about the “joys and horrors of pregnancy and childbirth.” They recently shared the album cover art, which aims to celebrate pregnant and postpartum bodies. It takes inspiration from “Madonna and Child” but one of the singer-songwriter’s breasts is uncovered.
“The idea that me as a sexual being and my body as a vessel and gift to my child are two concepts that can co-exist peacefully and powerfully,” writes Halsey. Abso-freakin-lutely.
Shay Mitchell
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One of our Alexandra Treses, Fil-Am star Shay Mitchell, proves that breastfeeding is beautiful (and magazine cover-worthy, TBH). She’s giving us a bit of ’80s glam with the puff-sleeved top, as if telling us that it shouldn’t be the breastfeeding that’s grabbing your attention in this photo.
Another thing to take note of? Perhaps any top can be your breastfeeding top if you’re brave enough.
Rachel McAdams
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Do Bulgari diamonds and breast pumps go well together? Girls. Girls. Girls. magazine says so. This fantastic cover shoot of Rachel McAdams mid-pump and in Versace brings the spotlight on what postpartum can be like for some moms. Breastfeeding is naturally a part of the experience, even when the mom is already back to work.
If the pumps look like foreign contraptions to you, it means that we still have a long way to go in normalizing it.
Iya Villania-Arellano
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Speaking of breastfeeding moms at work, Iya Villania-Arellano shared this photo of her nursing on the set. She says that breastfeeding in public takes time to get used to but she does wonder whether doing it without covers (like her cute poncho) will ever be fully accepted in our country.
We’re hoping that it’ll happen for us soon, too. Let’s get it in our heads, people. The act of breastfeeding shouldn’t be sexualized and learn to mind your own business.
Ashley Graham
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Here’s a mom who doesn’t have any qualms about nursing publicly. Plus-size model Ashley Graham shows off this photo of her and baby Isaac at a cafe. With one hand on her cup, she looks like an unbothered expert at it.
Another thing that we need to talk about is how fatphobia treats plus-size pregnancies differently. Stop leaving unsolicited comments about mom bods. Period.
Cardi B
We’re ending our list with this shot from Cardi B’s “Money” music video. It’s such a power move for a mom to include breastfeeding clips in a video where she’s also pole dancing.
Mom artists aren’t required to do a complete 180 once they give birth. As Halsey said in the quote we mentioned earlier, moms choosing to still celebrate their own sexuality doesn’t make them bad parents. It’s the people who have unfair (and dull) expectations for moms who need a change in perspective.
Art by Pammy Orlina
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