‘My Body’ is a collection of twelve non-fiction essays written by model and actress Emily Ratajkowski, published in 2021.
Inside the dust jacket is a quote by Amy Schumer: ‘She explores body politics – and the politics of her body – through a uniquely feminist lens.’ Clearly marketed as a work of feminist literature, ‘My Body’ attempts to unpack the complex and peculiar relationship Ratajkowski has with her own body.
These essays humanize Ratajkowski; we get insight not only into her insecurities but also into her family life and marriage to producer Sebastian Bear McClard. She draws back the curtain on her life, and gives the reader behind-the-scenes access to Instagram posts, Hollywood parties and holidays in the Maldives.
Some essays were published before the collection, like ‘Buying Myself Back,’ New York Magazine’s most read piece of 2020. Others were widely anticipated, such as ‘Blurred Lines,’ a recounting of the assault she suffered at the hands of Robin Thicke on the set of the ‘Blurred Lines’ music video in 2014. A leaked excerpt from this essay appeared in The Sunday Times ahead of the book’s publication, revealing Ratajkowski’s accusations for the first time. She commented in an interview to ET: ‘I’m really excited that the book’s going to finally be available for people to have the option and the opportunity to read things in my own words’. In the first chapter, ‘Beauty Lessons,’ Ratajkowski delves into her upbringing: ‘I’ve never prayed much, but I do remember that as a young girl I prayed for beauty.’ The origin of beauty, and the exact value of it, is a thread that seems to run throughout the author’s life.
In ‘My Body,’ Ratajkowski admits to using the patriarchal system behind the beauty industry to her advantage. She reaffirms her political stance as a feminist, arguing there is no reason a woman cannot both explore her sexuality and also be respected as an intelligent, complex being.
This collection poses the question: is it wrong to profit off of the system that oppresses you?
We don’t often see models, especially such successful and famous women like Ratajkowski, openly denounce the powerful men who control the fashion industry. This is shown in ‘Men Like You,’ an open letter to Steve Shaw, founder and editor of Treats! magazine (a now defunct nude publication). Ratajkowski shows her reader through a series of encounters with powerful men that rich and famous female models also have to go through sexism, sexual assault and even prostitution.
It’s interesting to get a more accurate and complex portrayal of Ratajkowski beyond her social media accounts. She is brave in standing by her accusations against the industry that gave her a platform, and defending her stance despite the negative responses she may have gotten throughout her career as a model and actress.
However, these essays do not go far enough for me personally; Ratajkowski touches on a variety of incredibly insightful subjects, especially when it comes to her childhood and relationship with her mother, but it is too superficial an exploration. She does not discuss her role in upholding the beauty standard and what effects this may have on young women today, especially for those on social media. This is a difficult line for Ratajkowski: her beauty is not her fault, but she does have a responsibility, as a self-described feminist, to address the way she is used as a representation of the ‘ideal’ female body.
Overall, ‘My Body’ is an insightful look into Emily Ratajkowski’s personal life. It is a quick, easy read and definitely worth it if you’re interested in contemporary feminist takes on beauty. It is a solid start in Ratajkowski’s career as a writer, and I hope to see her develop these thoughts further in her next book.
‘My Body’ is available for online purchase on the Waterstones website, as well as on Bookshop.org and Amazon, among other UK retailers. ‘Buying Myself Back’ is available to read on The Cut.