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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First of all, Felton, I am SO surprised that with a name like "Felton" you married and have, apparently, had sex. Second, your post was SO sad to me. You and your wife MUST be from the Appalachian mountains and to you, "brother + sister = husband and wife!! You are SO backward and pitiful!! Maybe you are not proud of your wife and children. I think I can tell why, but other men ARE proud!! Here is a little "heads up," we (women) can vote now, and you (men) are NO longer the boss of us!! Let you sister go and let her love a man that appreciates the beauty of pregnancy and child bearing!! That would be great..thanks!!
When I was pregnant, I loved being pregnant. I didn't think it was disgusting in any way shape or form. I miss being pregnant and would do it all over again. I loved the way I looked. I personally think pregnancy is a beautiful thing.
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now thats what im talking about
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Back when Demi did her pose I thought it was disgusting and I STILL do after all these years, this is a totaly unnecessary pose by any woman in any shape, why women let men talk them into these things is beyond me? They aren't beautiful to any one except perhaps their husband...maybe!
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The women who pose for photos of themselves while pregnant may be proud and happy about their time of life and that's lovely. But I don't see why the rest of us have to share it with them. Many of us remember stretch marks and protruding navels which were not attractive. If the photos of these women don't show those problems it's probably because they were are-brushed out. Wish I could have done that when I was pregnant with my four wonderful children.
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And you robbed us of that opportunity to see you pregnant and naked. Dammit.
Must be a really slow news day...
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Wanda reads popeater expecting hard news, I guess. (?)
GET OVER YOURSELVES! These are beautiful woman taking photos of a beautiful time in their lives. Pregnant woman ARE beautiful! If you don't like the photos, DON'T LOOK AT THEM!
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Its like going by a train wreck. You dont want to see a corpse but you will look anyway. I really like the beautiful pregnant women wearing a 2 piece at the beach. Is that beautiful. Every guy and female around me thinks its gross,
DON"T LOOK???? It is plastered all over magazine covers and the freakin internet!!!
You do realize these magazine covers are mainstream magazines, appearing in places like grocery stores racks, etc. Letting it all hang out at eye-level to the kiddies. What's the use of putting Playboy in a brown wrapper?
You're right. It is all throughout mainstream media. On the magazine covers they're holding as much of their bodies as you'd see on the beach. A woman in a thong bathing suit shows a hell of a lot of her body. How can you possibly censor everything in life?
Howard:
What an ugly think to say. You were once inside someone's belly. I personally would not have posed nude during my pregnancy but for those women who do, then I take my hat off to them.I would be willing to bet that you look at nude photos of women in the men magazines, not much difference. Everyone has their own taste but it is not ugly. Bringing a new life into this world is a wonderful experience. If you have any kids, did you not think your wife or girlfriend was beautifulduring her pregnancy? If you don't have kids, hopefully one day you will and I pray that you find the woman who carries your child beautiful during such a blessed time.
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Yes, you are right ladies. There's nothing so attractive as a fat belly. Who's kidding who? Show your husband or boyfriend. Other men don't want to see it. It is a beautiful thing, but not a beautiful sight.
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I think its beautiful to be pregnant......But Their portraying in such a vain way.......perfect hair, makeup...some with designer cloths.......where is the beauty of the "baby" in that????????
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"Self-selected narcissists." That is EXACTLY what they are! But like you said, as long as there is a demand there will be a supply. I'm so tired of these people and their over-inflated egos and over-inflated salaries and their continued squandering of their good fortune.
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While I can understand that some find this gross. I see it as one of the most beautiful and miraculous things. There is a baby life in there. Art at its most exquisite expression. I thank these women for allowing people to see the miracle of their body.
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Who wants to do an "over-under" on how long the Kerr/Bloom thing lasts?
Today is November 14th, 2010. One year from today, they will have split up.
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I say they make it at least 18 months!