In the 18th edition of Love magazine, “some of the world’s most glamorous luminaries” — Emily Ratajkowski, Alexa Chung, Ashley Graham, Doutzen Kroes, Stephanie Seymour, Slick Woods and Karen Elson — pose topless (or full-on nude) for legendary French photographer Patrick Demarchelier.
But the stunning black and white photos are more than mere thirst traps. Demarchelier captures the beauty and confidence of a diverse cast of highly accomplished women. Each subject — regardless of her size, age and race — proudly flaunts her form. The series is a sex-positive celebration of diversity — and we’re totally here for it.
In the accompanying text, Ratajkowski, who’s been known to strip down for the cause of third-wave feminism, tells interviewer Paul Flynn: “Certain women, no matter what, they get put into certain boxes more than men. It says so much about how much we don’t like women in culture that if they show their bodies, they’re vulgar, basically.”
Anyone who accuses Ratajkowski and her co-stars of vulgarity has clearly missed the point. To quote the model-turned-actress yet again (here, we’re borrowing from her July 2016 interview in Harper’s Bazaar): “The world should not be exclusive of the ideal body. It has to include all ideals, all bodies. The whole idea is that when [a woman] takes a nude [photo], she’s just seeking attention. That’s not the issue. A woman can be seeking attention and also make a statement. They don’t need to be mutually exclusive.”
Scroll down for a look at the breathtaking photo series and hit play on the video above for a behind-the-scenes peek at Demarchelier’s full Love shoot (which also stars Iman, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, Laura Dern, Sally Field and Amber Valleta, all clothed).
Stephanie Seymour
Karen Elson
Slick Woods
Emily Ratajkowski
A post shared by LOVE MAGAZINE (@thelovemagazine) on
Alexa Chung
A post shared by LOVE MAGAZINE (@thelovemagazine) on
Ashley Graham
A post shared by LOVE MAGAZINE (@thelovemagazine) on
Doutzen Kroes
A post shared by LOVE MAGAZINE (@thelovemagazine) on
[ via Allure ]