Models tend to be identified with being the ultimate standard of beauty, a level most of society feels they can never achieve. Yet, perhaps, one of the most human experiences; having a child, should be seen as something far more beautiful than anything make up and Photoshop can create…
Whereas parenthood is seen as a “blessing”, the necessities that go along with having and raising a child are rarely discussed. In fact, moreso, they’re kept hush hush behind closed doors.
In 2015, breastfeeding is just one of those topics. Through the skewed vision of societies eyes, women time and time again are labelled as ‘indecent’ during the simple act of feeding their child. Something that they have to do for their child to survive.
No matter what precautions a women takes to remain modest during the act, such as wearing a blanket over the baby and breast during feeding to cover up, the act has a dirty stigma attached that is not easily shaken.
Despite roughly half of the world’s population having the ability to give birth, the cause (for whatever reason) just hasn’t gained the backing that it needs to normalize breastfeeding. Nicole Trunfio is one super model mother flashing her boobs at the haters.
Trunfio, an Australian born beauty, got her start after she won the third season of Super Model of Australia back in 2002, and came second place in the international version of the series. Since then she was taken on by IMG in New York and has gained quite a following. She is an iconic face for the giant Australian chain David Jones and has done a fair amount of work with highly successful international brands including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Versace.
Trunfio isn’t the first model (or mother for that matter) to attempt to change the way the world thinks of the issue, but who are we to split hairs?
Fellow Aussie mum Miranda Kerr has heaps of photos of her adorable son, Flynn, across her social media channels. And when Flynn was still a baby, Kerr wasn’t shy about posting pictures of feeding time.
Probably one of the most famous cases of all was the Instagram post from Gisele Bündchen back in 2013 where she made headlines all across the world for a photograph of her breastfeeding a (then) one-year-old baby Vivian.
This caused a massive controversy for various reasons, but what can’t be ignored is the consistent component that ultimately sparks the controversy: the breast.
What may come as a surprise, but honestly shouldn’t, is the fact that breasts do have a purpose in this world, and surprise! It isn’t solely to be fondled or stared at. When we see someone using a tool incorrectly, we think less of that person and in most cases attempt to correct them on their mistake.
Yet when breasts are used for their designated purpose… people go mental.
Believe it or not, there was an actual time where breasts weren’t a sexual object. Centuries ago, woman could walk around topless and it didn’t create chaos. Nowadays, breasts are less about little babies and more about grown ones.
After this shift it is proving to be quite difficult to back pedal and desexualize the breast.
Trunfio was recently on set shooting for Elle Australia when the new mother took a quick break to feed five-month-old baby Zion. Even the gorgeous makeup and clothing couldn’t compete with how stunning the mum looked whilst feeding her child.
They then ushered mum and baby to where the photoshoot was taking place and had to get some shots of the two. Looking effortlessly chic, a photo of both Trunfio and Zion not only managed to grace the pages of Elle, it landed the front cover!
And while we are squealing in excitement for how amazing this news is, the cover only made it out to a select few. Only subscribers were mailed the original copy, leaving a more modest cover for the newsstands.
Although there would have surely been quite an uproar if the breastfeeding cover did make it’s way into shop shelves, it is nonetheless a step in the right direction. Naturally, due to the age we live in, Trunfio sparked a social media movement and got the hashtag #normalizebreastfeeding trending.
“I obviously don’t look like this or wear [this] while I am breastfeeding, but this stands for all women out there, whether you breastfeed or not, we gave birth, we are women, we are mothers,” Trunfio posted on her Facebook page.
As Trunfio mentions, most women don’t look as glamorous breastfeeding as she does in her frontcover photo, but the fact that she is using her platform to announce to the world just how natural this aspect of motherhood is, is truly outstanding.
It might take some time for this concept to be widely accepted, but Trunfio and others like her are clearly doing their part to help the cause. Every aspect of being a women should be celebrated, and not just selectively. While breasts are a beautiful part of a woman’s anatomy, they shouldn’t be shamed for doing their job and praised for looking the part.