Oh look. Another celebrity look-at-me photo shared via social media.
Today’s is from Jada Pinkett Smith, who’s Will Smith’s wife. She tweeted a picture of herself in a bikini at the beach as a way to inspire women her age. She wrote: “To my Forty and over crew! Don’t believe the hype…we DO get better with age!”
Bar Refaeli
What are your thoughts on the celebrity sexy selfie?
Here’s what we had to say about the trend it in a recent post called ‘are these shots about control or just look at me?’
Photos of celebrities in swimmers is not new. Gossip mags are full of stalkerazzi shots of famous people, often on holidays, caught in their cossies. What’s new is that now the celebrities are taking these shots THEMSELVES. And sharing them with the world.
Have the hunted now become the hunters? Of themselves? And is this a bit weird?
Demi Moore
Blame Demi Moore. She started it. Back when she was still married to Ashton Kutcher, we were all treated to the slightly sad spectacle of Demi taking a shot of herself with her phone while staring at her bikini-wearing self in the mirror.
Not sure why she took it. Wait, yes we are. To prove that she may be 50 but she’s still hot. Ok yes you are. Now put it away.
Reality star Lisa Rinna jumped on board the sexy selfies train by taking a similar shot of herself in what she called ‘a tribute’ to Demi and tweeting it to her thousands of followers.
Ever since then, it’s been an avalanche of celebrities wanting to show us what they look like with most of the clothes off. It’s like a press release because they know it will be widely shared on social media and appear in mainstream media as well.
Body selfies. Self sexting. Sexy selfies. Matser-bexting.
Is it a way for celebrities to reclaim their bodies from the papapparazzi? Control their image? Or simply the latest example of extreme narcissism?
Comments
30 Comments so far
People take selfies all the time so why can’t celebrities?
I hate to be cynical but if it were a celebrity who was ‘bigger’ than these ones who appeared in this gallery who posted a photo in a swimsuit there’d be an article applauding them for celebrating their body no matter what it looked liked etc etc but because these women are all slim and toned – it’s implied that them taking a selfie is narcissistic. This article to me is promoting people to have a go at these celebrities for being happy with their bodies. They work hard for it and make sacrifices to have bodies like that why can’t they be proud of it?
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Here’s a selfie of me. Am I being an “attention seeking” celeb by posting this here? NO because I am not a celeb but a real SAHM with 4 kids under 6 years
about to turn 40!!!
Just trying to keep it real and sharing my new lease on life with like minded women. Promoting healthy living with regular exercise without a personal chef or trainer. So for any Mums or future Mums “to be” wanting to feel fabulous inside and out, these are the 2 ingredients you need GOOD FOOD and regular EXERCISE.
For those that think I am showing off?!!! YES I AM!!! Showing off healthy food + exercise = happy me, happy mother, happy wife & happy life
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Pleeeease no more duck faces! Very bad look. As for being hot at 40, we should all make an attempt to look good at any age. Just because you’re 40 or 50 does not mean you can let it all ‘go south.’ Exercise & a healthy diet will always help to make you look & feel good.
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That lady gaga photo creeps me out… actually she creeps me out in general.
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It depends on the context of the “selfie”! Some are downright attention seeking and some, like Jada Pinkett-Smith’s are gorgeous!
The message with Jada’s photo is a great one, empowering women over 40 and sending a brilliant message with her strong, healthy physique.
Don’t get me wrong, seeing bathroom photos in a miniscule bikini (here’s looking at you, Rice and Moore) are a little irritating, but when the post promotes health and self-esteem, keep them coming!
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How does this promote self esteem? Self esteem does not just come from what we look like. Nor does this empower women- in fact a picture of a woman in a bikini dies the opposite- it objectifies her.
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Sharing a photo of herself enjoying the outdoors with an inspirational message aimed at a group of women who often find themselves with self-esteem issues isn’t objectifying the subject.
In fact, this photo and its caption seems very subjective to me.
Since this looks like just about every family happy snap from any holiday I’ve ever been on, would you say that any woman in a swimsuit is objectified?
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Each to their own, none of these people are hurting anyone, but I find them embarrassing. I’m all for empowerment, but I don’t think that’s what this is. I think it’s vanity. Like all those pouty, bathroom mirror photos on Facebook, they’re looking for validation. Just my take!
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According to this site you’re only allowed to love your body if it has ‘curves’
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Says who!?
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My goodness. The message that I’ve always gotten from this site is “Love your body, no matter what it looks like.” But that’s just my interpretation.
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I’m really surprised by everyone’s responses. I’m with the authors on this & think they could show a little more humility instead of hubris. I know these women look fabulous, especially the ladies over 40 with a few kids in tow but don’t they get enough pics of then taken by the paps? It just screams “look at me” & is a bit too attention seeking for my taste
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Yes and in Demi’s case it’s just embarrassing. Given what we now know about her she was obviously riddled with insecurity and desperately trying to hold on to that relationship, hence the “I’m 50 and still oh so hot” ‘selfie’ thrust right out there for the world to see. Sad. Poor Demi, she must have been really suffering!
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I really don’t like the tone of this post. What is wrong with celebrities taking selfies and as people have mentioned, this isn’t a selfie. What happened to supporting fellow women and sharing the love? I think she looks great. More power to her.
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If I looked that good in a bikini, I’d take lots of selfies too!
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I guess she worked hard for it, so good on her. I can’t stand the narcissism of Facebook and other social media, though.
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EMPOWEREMENT!! LOVE IT! We have to stop the self-hate! She’s hot!
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She’s forty and looks amazing, Well done to her I say, why not feel proud of your body especially if you work hard for it? Good on her!
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Jadas isnt a “selfie” because she didn’t take it of herself (in a mirror). This is just Jada posting a pic of herself in a bikini with a positive message. I dont see ANYTHING wrong with this at all.
Then again, I honestly don’t see anything wrong with the “selfie” in general, especially when it comes from celebs. Why? A selfie is not likely to be airbrushed or photoshopped – you usually find “selfies” look more ‘real’ than most shots of the celeb out there.
Are we really at the point where we consider posting a pic of ourselves with a positive message is going to do a bunch of damage to someone else?
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Dear all,
I feel this is relevant here as while this article is about celebrities, their photos (‘selfies’ or not), certainly influence our body image.
Please participate in my study on eating behaviours & disordered eating. You must be 18 years and over. Research is for a great cause!
http://opinio.online.swin.edu.au/s?s=12733
If you think you know anyone else who may be interested please pass the above link on. The survey is brief and all done online and you may just find it a bit interesting! Many thanks
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Good on her, great to see women loving how they look and celebrating it. The smith’s rock!! way to go!!
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That Smith family has waaaaay too much ‘self confidence’ for my liking.
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Really? you can have too much self confidence? that isnt a bad thing surely?
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You can when it borders on obnoxiousness which is what my point was. Have you seen these people interviewed?
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One persons ‘obnoxious’ is another persons ‘confidence’ – it’s all subjective.
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I love will;)
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Oh yes you can – when it becomes self-absorbtion, arrogance, conceit, narcissism. Self-confidence overload is all of those things.
Where has humility gone?
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eeerrrr thats not a selfie
doesnt she look fabulous
more power to her
didn`t I just read an article here that 40 is the new 30? (unless you look fab in a bikini??, then its just a “look at me”)
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Yes, surely we can narrow the definition of ‘selfie’ down to pictures actually taken by self!
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Totally agree Janine! Hard to watch those interviews. There is way too much ‘going on’ in this family – I’d be surprised if those kids aren’t complete train wrecks by age 18…
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