Why Do Celebrities Pose Naked and Pregnant?

In 1991,
Demi Moore made having a baby bump chic when she posed on the cover of Vanity Fair heavily pregnant and nude.
Since then, dozens of famous moms-to-be have struck Moore-like poses with their child in utero. Earlier this year, a very pregnant Claudia Schiffer was photographed by Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld for German Vogue, and this month
Orlando Bloom's supermodel wife Miranda Kerr -- seen after the jump -- took it all off for
W magazine at six-and-a-half months pregnant. (
See More of Miranda's Shoot Here)
Hollybaby Executive Editor Kathy Campbell says these shots are the celeb equivalent of getting a belly cast or creating a lasting memento of their pregnancy.
"I think being pregnant is a very special time in a woman's life, so why not pose to capture that special moment forever? There are plenty of women who do belly casts, so this is just another way of capturing it. I think it's beautiful," Campbell said.
When Moore first struck her iconic pose, we were a little more prudish. That mag cover was banned from several newsstands and at others was wrapped in paper to avoid offending sensitive eyes. Since Demi, Cindy Crawford, Heidi Klum, Milla Jovovich,
Britney Spears and
Christina Aguilera have all bared their bellies during their joyous times.
Pregnancy represents a "safe" time for a celebrity to pose nude.
"During pregnancy, the naked body isn't as sexualized. It is safer to go nude because you're looking at these women as life-giving vessels rather than sex objects," explains
US Weekly photo editor Peter Grossman.
Yet, in some ways, these nude pregos are setting unfair expectations for the average mama. Regular pregnant women simply don't look like Miranda Kerr with her shapely belly and well-proportioned everything else. A lot of women are swollen, veiny, bloated and have cottage cheese thighs when they're pregnant.
And not everyone is a fan of what writer Rebecca Traister once dubbed "pregnancy porn." Bruce Jenner certainly isn't. On a recent episode of 'Keeping up with the Kardashians,' Bruce was none too pleased when Kris displayed a photo of Kourtney Kardashian imitating Demi's pose in the couple's bedroom.
"That's a nude shot of my daughter Kourtney," Bruce said. "Why have that in here? Is it art?"
Some women see the pregnancy pictures as simply another outlet for celebs to channel their self-absorption.
"Some of them do it because they are self-selected narcissists who act like they are the first women to ever conceive a child, like its some great feat that nobody else but them are capable of," says 'Cult of Celebrity' author Cooper Lawrence. "Add to that the extraordinary attention we media folk pay to the 'baby bump.' We only encourage their delusions of grandeur by making it easy for them to think that their pregnancy is indeed the second coming, so they must be photographed for posterity, for all the world to see, since they are indeed 'special.'"
One thing is for sure. We won't be seeing any less of these naked pregnant celebs. As long as they keep selling magazines and getting clicks online, you can be sure someone will keep asking these pregnant stars to take their clothes off.
We Asked New Yorkers: Would You Pose Pregnant and Naked?
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Desperate for attention.....and the media gives it to them.....
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Ive wondered about this myself. Its gross. Why do these women think everyone wants to see their fat gross stomachs. Its like the idiots who turn sideways and hold their fat ugly stomachs with both hands. Hey we see your big, fat, ugly stomach, you dont have to bring more attention to the fact your knocked up. To me pregnant women arent as attractive as they and their husbands think. That should be personal between the two. Actually I thinks they are super unattractive!!!
This is for Demi, always had a crush on her what a cutie! If I was yonger I would do everything to attract her. Go girl go!
Jerry
I took similar photos when I was pregnant with all three of my children. I am so glad I did. Each pregnancy was very special, and I enjoyed being pregnant. When I look at those photos, I see the true happiness and love that I felt. I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via agegapsingl es.c 'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.. Just love it
"Howard" is exactly the reason it's important celebrities pose while pregnant. While I am not partial to the "baby bump" craze (I think it's stupid), pregnancy is a natural part of life that women should not be ashamed of. These women aren't holding "their big fat bellies". They are carrying a big, growing human being. It's not about attractiveness (as the Howards of the world protest). It's simply about "this is nature, get over it." If you are the jealous type of woman who immediately thinks they only do this for attention seeking, then so be it... you and Howard can sit on the bus together.
Desperate, try confident...
I am one of those that thinks the pictures are fantastic, alluring, sensual, and beautiful. Never will a woman pregnant not be desirable, especially to hold and be close to one of God's great gifts. We don't see swollen, veiny, bloated or cottage cheese thighs when they're pregnant. Suburb as ART also.
Looks like a herd of brood mares.
Absolutely right! Desperate for attention. They can think it's "beautiful" and want to "capture the moment" blah blah blah...but why do it on the cover of a magazine!? Ego! Stupidity! Vanity!
Try "naaya-stay". People all need to relieve themselves, as well. Do we need photos of that, too?
I think it's beautiful. I don't see why people get so up in arms about this!
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Because they can and they are not ashamed of their bodies...what's the big deal?
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PATTI LABELLE DID IT LONG BEFORE THESE GALS, AND QUITE BEAUTIFULLY I MUST SAY! BUT I GUESS "MAIN STREAM" MEDIA WOULDN'T HAVE ANY CLUE.
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Patti Labelle ??? Really ? Is it on the net? That's fabulous !
Omg really? The media won't let us know about that. Wonder why? I would love to see. Now that would be art.
Keep it in the home.....not many of us want to view their naked and bloated bellys on the cover of any magazine. Celebrities get more than their fair share of attention. Whats next??? Watching them as they defecate or urinate on the toilet????
Some people are so fixated on the rich and famous that they want to view every single aspect of their lives.....its crazy and makes no sense!!!!
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okay...you are really overexaggerating. if you think naked pregnant women are that gross idk what to say to make you see the beauty in it....
Funny! They already do that in movies and think they're great for being so realistic. Maybe a toilet squatting magazine cover will happen some day, too.
Mac, are you saying your mom took the equivalent of a big fat turd with you?
They basically already covered that one too... Remember Jenny McCarthy's Candies ad? LOL - nasty!