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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Thanks Deb!
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Those women are airbrused! If I were a Celeb, I would not pose nude while pregnant!
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Money is the only reason, any woman would want to share this very personal private photo, with the world.
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I think this is great! Pregnancy is a beautiful thing. For some one to say that its disgusting to see their "big, fat, ugly stomach" is pretty ignorant. Pregnancy should be embraced. Your bringing a new life into the world and that is beautiful and something every woman should share. whether it be in a nude photo or a sonogram! Bravo to these mommy's to be!
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sad but true. I sure as hell don't want to see them!
I've said it before and I'll say it again Demi Moore wasn't the first celebrity to pose nude and pregnant for a Magazine just for a resepctable one. it's a way to celebrate the most beautiful moment in a womans/couples life having a child. get over yourselves at least it's not the 50's and 60's anymore where you couldn't say the word pregnant on TV or in print even if the article was covering a film premiere and the female lead star was visibly expecting a child. as for example the premiere of rally around the flag boys in december of 1958 it's female lead academy award winner Joanne Woodward was nearly 6 months pregnant with her oldest daughter Nell who would have been her second biological child if not for a miscarriage on her and Paul's London Honeymoon that February. granted a Victoria Secret Langerie model as Miranda Kerr is is totally different than an Oscar winning actress is. if tastefully done nude pregnancy shots are some of the most beautiful pictures that can ever be taken of a woman
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UMMMM....you just know waaaay too much about that crap.
No one has to "get over" his/herself just because opinions differ. If it's the most beautiful moment in a couple's life, why is it just the female posing nude on the magazine cover? Why not a big ol' family shot? Surely "Daddy" is glowing with pride....
I think its beautiful.
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I really don't care to see it. It is beautiful, but it should be between your husband and you. What makes them think we all need to see it. I wish the darn stars would keep something personal.
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Yes, but did you sale yours for money to a magazine? I don't think so. See if she did it and did not get paid for it, then maybe I would say OK, she is doing it for herself and her husband, but she is reaping the benefits as well, that takes away something so personal and special.
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more money for the crib...who care if they model and make money off of it? if i was sexy and pregnant id do it too. its really not that big of a deal.
It should be between the husband and wife and God, personal to a certain point.
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Wow - would you put your wife in a burqa? LOL
It is a blessing for sure and beautiful, but it should be kept in the home amoung the family. Certain things!
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I think they are beautiful, as long as they are tastefully done! While I was pregnant, yes I didn't always feel sexy, but I felt ...alive! I had a literal life moving around inside of me, and wished I could share it with the world! Pregnanct either makes a woman feel alive and confident...or scared and ugly. Bravo to these brave women who are showing the world how much of a miracle pregnancy is and that they are proud of it!!
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Christina Aguilera pose is so skanky.
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yes it is...
Its not beautiful. Its gross. My wife has had 3 of my children. Never once did I look at her belly nor did she want me to. She felt gross and looked gross. Some people pose because they are so far up themselves they think they look hot no matter what. I dont pay any attention to them pregnant or not.
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Felton, I would hate to be married to you. If your feelings are so negative towards someone carrying your soon to be child, I can't imagine what kind of father you would turn out to be. Get some counseling, son.