Emma Watson has been shaping my life since she was 9 years old and played the iconic role of “Hermione Granger” in the Harry Potter series. She made me feel truly connected to Hermione and allowed me to feel confident in being a bookworm. As Emma Watson has grown up, she has been able to do more mature but still relatable roles, studied at and graduated from Brown University, has been successful in keeping her private life private, and most important of all, Emma Watson has become the ultimate advocate for gender equality and women’s rights.
With the hype of the new live action remake of Beauty and the Beast, Emma Watson is once again in the spotlight and living out my childhood dream of being my favorite Disney princess. In the wave of media and publicity coverage for this amazing actress and UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador, there has been much discrepancy about her recent cover photo for Vanity Fair.
In the photo (shown above), Emma Watson has her breasts partially exposed. This, according to many critics, means that she is going back on her feminist views and does not stand for women. Emma Watson has not held her tongue about the matter and has no problem reminding people what she is advocating for and the true meaning of feminism. In a recent Reuters interview Emma Watson explained her position and what feminism is all about, “Feminism is about giving women choice. Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women with. It’s about freedom. It’s about liberation. It’s about equality. I really don’t know what my tits have to do with it.” She has handled herself and the movements she advocates for with grace, intelligence, and the utmost courage. I could not imagine looking up to a more amazing young woman, and I hope that people open their eyes and their minds to the good she has already done and will continue to do.