Candice Swanepoel’s Provocative Breastfeeding Pic Will Make You Cheer
Warning: The following image contains a breastfeeding woman. Lol, totally kidding about that warning — a child being nourished should NEVER be cause for apology or warning. It’s a heartbreaking crime against women and children that we still live in a society where breastfeeding in public is often considered taboo, especially given that this totally natural method for sustaining human life is basically considered no big deal in so much of the world. The Pope even encourages women to go ahead and breastfeed, if necessary, in the Sistine Chapel. But, we digress.
Over the weekend, Victoria’s Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel took to Instagram to express her right to feed her child.
But the clear winner of the post was not necessarily the image Candice shared of herself breastfeeding her baby Anacã, but the heartfelt — and totally valid — caption Candice gave it. She wrote:
She wrote:
“Many women today are shamed for breastfeeding in public, or even kicked out of public places for feeding their children. I have been made to feel the need to cover up and somewhat shy to feed my baby in public places but strangely feel nothing for the topless editorials I’ve done in the name of art..? The world has been desensitized to the sexualization of the breast and to violence on tv…why should it be different when it comes to breastfeeding? -Breastfeeding is not sexual it’s natural- Those who feel it is wrong to feed your child in public need to get educated on the benefits breastfeeding has on mother and child and intern on society as a whole. 💪🏼💙 👫👭#mothernature”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Candice Swanepoel (@angelcandices) on
Because the internet is the way it is (read: sometimes pretty terrible), some commenters were unimpressed. But the overall reaction to Swanepoel’s post was an overwhelming “YAAAAAAAAS!” Instagram user @sazzlet wrote: “Yes!!! I could not agree more. It makes me so angry to think that people could be disgusted by something that is so natural.” Meanwhile, @hanna.kess posted: “So true! YES. You are amazing.”
Correction: In an earlier version of this post, we incorrectly said Swanpoel’s child was a daughter named Dusty Rose. The correct name of her son is Anacã.
Do you disagree with Candice’s take on public breastfeeding (and ours)? Tell us why @BritandCo!
(Photo via Pascal Le Segretain / Getty)