As our society continues to move forwards, and our understanding of gender and sexuality changes, many women are choosing to rock the au naturel look.
And this includes women who have been viewed as hyper-feminine like Emily Ratajkowski.
Ratajkowski has posed with her armpit hair grown for the September issue of Harper's BAZAAR, and wrote a personal essay explaining that there's more to her gender identity than meets the eye.
She began her essay by writing: "I'm a cis white woman. I'm well aware of the privilege I receive as someone who is heteronormative, and I don't pretend to act like my identity hasn't made some things easier for me."
A self-proclaimed "staunch feminist" the 28-year-old said she was less than flattered when she was described as "hyper femme." This implied that her femininity was extreme (and therefore deliberate). In short, it was a description she simply couldn't relate to.
She said, "In my day-to-day life, I was not aware of being femme or masc or anything but just me."
However, on reflection, Ratajkowski realized that there wasn't necessarily anything wrong with being "occasionally hyper-feminine" and embracing this part of her sexuality actually empowers her. She continued, "I feel powerful when I'm feeling myself, and sometimes feeling myself means wearing a miniskirt. Sometimes it means wearing a giant hoodie and sweats."
That's why she decided to rock armpit hair in the photoshoot; to show she has the right to express herself in any way she sees fit. She said, "For me, body hair is another opportunity for women to exercise their ability to choose...On any given day, I tend to like to shave, but sometimes letting my body hair grow out is what makes me feel sexy."
You go, girl!
