Emily Ratajkowski
“We women decide”
At a premiere in 2019, the model sends a clear message to film producer Harvey Weinstein. At the time, he wanted to buy himself free from allegations of sexual harassment.
© Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / Getty Images
Model Emily Ratajkowski gives deep insights into what goes on behind the scenes in her business – and how she became so strong herself.
Admittedly, one might think at first: A 30-year-old model, who often presents herself half-naked on social media, is now publishing memoirs with the title “My Body” – so what? But there is much more to Emily Ratajkowski’s, 30, writing debut. The collection of essays (previously only published in English) has been on the New York Times bestseller list for weeks. And if you read it, you will quickly notice: Emily is very worried.
Her appearance is both a blessing and a curse
Of course, it’s about her beautiful body. But unadorned, she tells the whole story. She describes that it is both a blessing and a curse to be attractive, to be judged by many only on your looks. How she is often unable to perceive herself without looking in a mirror. It’s a feeling that many pretty girls know.
At the age of just 16, Emily was signed by the renowned agency “Ford Models” after a scout discovered her in her hometown of San Diego. In her youth, she repeatedly experienced assaults – which she was only able to call sexual abuse or rape much later.
Today we are still moving within the narrow confines of a patriarchal world
When she was 21, she was booked for the “Blurred Lines” video of superstars Robin Thicke, 44, and Pharrell Williams, 48. Emily dances lightly dressed and lascivious in the video. She attracts attention, is googled a million times and thus became a celebrity herself. Her sexy image makes her feel powerful. She only now writes in her book that Thicke was attacking and grabbing her breasts. At that time she was already collecting millions of followers and making a lot of money. But she senses that something is wrong.
It doesn’t always have to be sexual harassment. “Whether you wear a bikini or a burqa – you are still moving within the narrow confines of a patriarchal world,” she told the New York Times. Her credo is therefore: “We women are the only ones who are allowed to decide which images of our body are disseminated.”
Emily has been married to Sebastian Bear-McClard, a film producer, since 2018. Baby Sylvester Apollo Bear was born in March 2021.
© MEGA / Getty Images
Emily Ratajkowski means business
When US artist Richard Prince, 72, copied an enlarged bikini picture from her Instagram profile and offered it for $ 80,000 in his gallery, Emily wanted to regain control. She stands in front of Richard Prince’s work, has herself photographed and this picture is auctioned at Christie’s auction house. As a unique item, as a “non-fungible token”, a non-replaceable digitally protected object. The proceeds: $ 175,000. Touché!
Control – that is the key point for Emily Ratajkowski. Always determine for yourself what it wants to stand for. To consciously decide for or above all against something. Just as it should apply to all girls and women worldwide.