Emily Ratajkowski Speaks Her Truth on Sexuality in the Modeling Industry
Specifically on the controversial “Blurred Lines” music video.
Emily Ratajkowski opens up about her “complicated” relationship using her sex appeal to gain success and fame in the modeling industry.
The supermodel made an appearance on CBS Mornings on Monday to discuss themes from her debut book, My Body. One of them touches on her experience working on Robin Thicke’s controversial “Blurred Lines” music video, which she starred in back in 2013.
“I think [in] my early 20s, I really thought of myself as kind of hustling and working the system and saying, ‘Okay, I know what I can get from becoming a model and from using my body to have fame and success.’ I even called it empowerment,” Ratajkowski said. “I was in the ‘Blurred Lines’ video — that was my kind of big breakthrough moment. And I told everyone that felt like an empowering experience, but I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized it’s a little more complicated, and I feel a responsibility to tell young girls that and share that with them.”
The first-time author further explained her perspective looking back. “I would be wrong to say that it’s just simply empowering to capitalize on your sexuality and your beauty as a woman. I think that ultimately you’re trying to appeal to men,” she added.
My Body, which is a collection of Ratajkowski’s most personal essays, will be published on Tuesday. The book includes a reprint of her viral New York magazine article, “Buying Myself Back.” Watch her full interview on CBS Mornings below.