Ivanka Trump Poses as a Pregnant Bunny: Who Does That?
Ivanka does know her unborn daughter will eventually see this picture, right?
Am I alone in thinking that there are things we do before becoming moms from which we must refrain the second we discover we are with child? And that near the top of that list is posing for magazines in skimpy bunny costumes when we are obviously pregnant?
Ivanka Trump, who usually appears to want to carry herself very publicly as a sophisticated businesswoman, inexplicably struts her slutty stuff in the June issue of Harper’s Bazaar in a getup generally reserved for women in soft-core porn magazines. (Not to mention the fact that she converted to Orthodox Judaism before getting married, and I can tell you the last time I ever saw an Orthodox Jew dressed so provocatively: never).
Is there some kind of expectant mom syndrome that I am unaware of that’s the equivalent to a bachelorette who feels it’s appropriate to act or dress inappropriately before she enters the next phase of her life?
Ever since I became a mom for the first time almost three years ago I realized that my conduct no longer reflected just me, but also my daughter. That includes what I do personally and professionally. It might not be fun to act like a mom, but when you think of the impact that your actions — large and small — have on your children, you realize it’s just part of the bargaining agreement of being a parent.
While I get Ivanka is attempting to brand herself as her father has done (for better or worse), I wonder how you go about raising a little girl in the Orthodox religion and also attempt to be taken seriously as a businesswoman role model for your daughter when she can look at a very public picture of you taken in fishnet stockings, mile-high heels and an outfit that would make Hugh Hefner proud?
To each her own, but I wouldn’t mind being a fly on the wall the day Ivanka and her husband don’t let their daughter out of the house because her skirt it too short or her shirt is too tight. As Oprah likes to say, when you know better, you do better. What’s Ivanka’s excuse?
Do you think Ivanka is setting a bad example for her unborn daughter, or do you applaud her for flaunting what she’s got?
Who cares? She isn’t naked.
Honestly, Ivanka does not look slutty nor does it seem like she’s trying to “strut her stuff.” There are plenty of celebrity mothers who pose naked while pregnant for magazine covers (ex. Demi Moore anyone?). Ivanka is not naked, is covering her lady bits very well, and its in a fun playful pose. She looks great and its positively glowing – her daughter will think her mother looks gorgeous when she see’s the picture. You are over-reacting.
@Julie — I don’t buy “because other celebs did it” as an excuse.
There are plenty of things to criticize about this, but “moms shouldn’t look slutty” is the last one I would go for. I’m a lot more anxious about how pregnancy is yet another point in a woman’s life where she’s supposed to look “hot” – women just never get a break.
I will never get the urge some women have to call other women out for what they think is “slutty” behavior in such a public way. It would be nice if we as women could support each other and not have to tear each other down to make ourselves feel, what? Morally superior? Better about ourselves? That’s just sad. Ivanka looks beautiful, glowing, and like she’s having fun during what I would imagine is a crazy, wonderful, hectic time for her. Why judge her so harshly for that? Maybe a little more “worry about your own life and your own choices and let him/her/them worry about theirs” would do you some good.
@Sarah — When a public figure poses as a pregnant bunny on the pages of a high profile magazine, I’d say she’s fair game for criticism. I’m not sure why you think all women should always *have* to support other women in every choice they make —– haven’t we earned the right to voice our opinion, even if they aren’t in harmony? (PS – If you don’t think Ivanka is loving the publicity — good and bad — generated by the photo, think again.)
I don’t see what being pregnant has to do with it… I’m not exactly the bunny eared fishnet type, but I’m also not changing how I dress, pose and enjoy myself just because I’m pregnant (assuming that it won’t harm the fetus). Dressing up is harmless fun, most kids get this, I’m sure her daughter will be fine. I don’t think all women have to like what other women do, but why criticize in this case? She’s harming no one, and seems to be enjoying herself.
Meredith – we don’t have to support everything other women do, but at the very least we should have more nuanced critiques than “ew, she’s dressed like a ho, moms shouldn’t be sexual.”
@Bunnytwenty — Who says moms can’t be sexual? Embracing sexuality is wonderful, to a point. I think she looks slutty and cheap, and that the look feels icky to me for someone carrying a child.
I think the photo makes very clear that Ivanka’s a hypocrite. She pretends to be an Orthodow Jew (I have friends who are Orthodox, and they all agree her conversion was a sham), then dresses in a way that no Orthodox woman would ever be caught dead. She talks about meritocracy, and earning what she has, yet when it came time to pick a professional path, she took the nepotism route. She pretends to be a serious businesswoman, and dresses like a ridiculous sex object.
How anybody takes her seriously is beyond me. But then again, as they say, there’s a sucker born every minute. Otherwise, the Trumps would starve to death.
Meredith – The “she’s asking for it” argument in any form is weak. I feel pretty icky about someone’s mother calling another woman “slutty and cheap” just because of a pair of fishnets and bunny ears, so I guess we’re even. Of course we don’t have to support each other in everything, but do we really need to rip each other to shreds just to make ourselves feel superior? I’d like to think we do not. You, apparently, think we do, so we’ll just have to agree to disagree.
@Sarah — You make it sound like I’m blaming a rape victim. This is a grown, educated and bright woman who purposely chose a provocative outfit to wear in a magazine so that she’d get some attention (which she’s now getting — you’re welcome, Ivanka!). How am I ripping her to shreds so that I can feel superior about myself? What does this have to do with me? In the stained sweatshirt and old shorts I’m wearing at the moment, I think it’s safe to say everyone is probably better than me.
Yeah, I’m going to have to agree here – this is some pretty ugly slut shaming. So she has a great body, so she chooses to show it off. Lots of mothers do. BFD. Branding them ‘slutty’ is pretty sexist, especially coming from a woman. I hope that the daughter I’m about to have has enough self confidence to choose to strut her stuff exactly as much or as little as she feels comfortable doing. And I hope to hell that people don’t call her slutty because of it.
I agree that trying to put this picture in the same mental compartment as “Orthodox Jew” makes my head hurt, but other than that, I honestly think she looks great. Real Playboy Bunny costumes are much more provocative and much trashier. The only part of this picture that seems inexplicable is the ears. Why is she wearing the ears? Without the ears, she’d just be a hot, pregnant woman on a balcony, which would be fine. Is there any kind of context in the magazine that would explain the ears?
If she were the VP of a real-estate company not owned by daddy, and she posed for a magazine in this attire, she’d be reprimanded and maybe even fired. I’m aware that when daddy is your boss, you can do whatever you want and still keep your job, but that doesn’t change the fact that she looks ridiculous and trashy. And I’m with Meredith: “other people do it” strikes me as a good argument — if you’re five years old.
Why does she have bunny ears? It’s because the picture is an hommage to a picture taken by Helmut Newton: http://www.luxist.com/photos/sothebys-photo-auction-stars/801258/
And I find Ivanka so beautiful and glowing in this picture. I still dress as I want now that I am pregnant: not to look sexy, just to feel like me, juste to have fun.
Oh good lord. Grow up. She’s beautiful.
LAME SAUCE. Just another attempt to sensationalize something that is unsensational.
Agreed this is strange and out of character for her.
I think your comments are petty. She doesn’t look in the least bit slutty or pornographic and the fact that you’re slamming everyone that doesn’t agree with your take on this is very immature. Get another job if you can’t take the criticism that you’re dishing out!
@Lori — Thanks for giving me the last laugh of my night! I’m flattered you think I’m slamming any of the commenters (I should be so tough!). As for not being able to “take the criticism,” who says I can’t? Bring it on!
Really? so dramatic….. she feels sexy and happy in that picture jezz half the time being pregnant you feel like a fat house i commend her for taking the step!!
Her expression says to me: “really, you’re going to photo me in this ridiculous costume?” I don’t think it looks sleazy-it is well covered and all but a bit silly yes. I’m sure she loves the attention but my gut says that particular photo was not her idea.
I think it’s odd especially since she converted to Orthodox Judaism (I had no idea), but I don’t think she looks slutty. Let’s face it she is a celebrity & they like to entertain & do things over the top plus she is a Trump, need I say more. We could blame it on the hormones LOL
Well, the photo’s obviously a (slightly odd) Helmut Newton homage, as the PP said, so she gets a pass from me there. Jiving it with a true conversion to Orthodox Judaism might be another story, but that’s an area about which I know very little.
I also see nothing wrong with maintaining a cute, fit body during pregnancy & being happy to show it off. I’m due with my first (a little girl) this weekend & have worn figure hugging dresses, skinny jeans, funky tights (including fishnets), & heels the entire time, if the mood struck me. I have been going the beach in a bikini & still do so at 9 months pregnant.
Are these things I should stop because I’m now a “mom”? I’ve gained around 20lbs (baby is estimated at 7-8lbs), ate well & stayed active. I hope to show my daughter one day that gestation & glamour are not mutually exclusive. I am also a serious, ambitious professional academic/scientist, so surprising people (by actually having) personal style is doubly fun.
My real question–would this picture be as polarizing if Ivanka posed for it six months or a year after her daughter was born? Is it the baby bump/bunny ears juxtaposition, or something more?
Jealous much?? She looks beautiful and it’s no one’s business what she does. I know plenty of conservative dressing mothers who are far more of a bad influence on their children. It’s not like she’s naked and showing it all!
The picture to me is just confusing. I don’t understand why she is dressed up as a playboy bunny. To my knowledge, she never was one. I dint see the picture being reflective of who she is. She can be sexy all she wants, but this was just so not in character that it looks ridiculous.
OMG! Get the stick out of your arse Meredith!!!!
“Am I alone in thinking that there are things we do before becoming moms from which we must refrain the second we discover we are with child?”
Yes, yes you are.
Take off the bunny ears and I think it’s just a pretty, fun, maternity photo. Nothing is really exposed except the side of her leg (perhaps the slit is a little high). But, really I don’t see what the big deal is.
Exc3ept I do agree with the others who said it seems a little odd. She doesn’t really look all that comfortable in the costume, but more like she just agreed to go along with it.
Another case of a woman cutting another woman down. We need to stop this! What is next? Burkas while pregnant? The author needs to reflect on why she thinks a woman pregnant can not embrace her sensuality. Just because we have children does not mean we have to give up our sense of playfulness. This picture is adorable. I would love it if my mother had a picture of herself like this when she was pregnant with me. It is empowering and she seems so happy with her sweet belly.
Even if she was posing naked, she is celebrating the look of motherhood. She is not showing anything provocative she is simply dressed as a bunny. At least she isn’t doing porn like many have out there. That is just tasteless. But i think she is really enjoying being a mother and i applaud her for it. I bet after her baby is born they will be talking smack about her because she will be breast feeding her daughter in public without a care in the world
Here is my question…Why do you care? Does it really impact your life that she dressed this way and A: is pregnant, B: does’t dress like an orthodox jew?
I don’t particularly care about the pregnant part: she’d look equally ridiculous in those bunny ears if she weren’t pregnant. She’s a business woman (or that’s what she wants people to believe): she ought to dress the part. Instead, the dresses like a Playboy bunny while she criticizes the President of the United States. If she doesn’t realize just how dumb she looks, then she’s completely delusional.
What the hell does Ivanka do in real life that makes her think that posing as a pregnant Playboy Bunny would be taken as anything other than what it is — a stupid, sexist photo? Like her father, she has no brains in her head. As to the commenters here, it appears that The Donald has his sock puppets out in full force. Post away with all your crap about supporting a woman’s right to make an ass of herself, LOL!
Seriously, what is your point? She looks fantastic! Good for her that she feels confident enough to dress up and pose while pregnant.
As far as I’m concerned, Trump = Tacky. This is just the latest example.
I think your problem, Meredith, was expecting class from a Trump. Silly, silly.
If it didn’t have bunny ears would you still be all huffy and puffy and judgmental? I get the feeling that even if she wasn’t pregnant that you wouldn’t like this image. What if we throw a turtleneck on her would that be ok? Or better yet the full body pink bunny costume from The Christmas Story. Is that ok? Basically it’s ok for mothers to look drab, or matronly, or dour, or frumpy, but not attractive, or cheeky, or appealing. Did I get that right? Ivanka Trump is an extremely intelligent and professional woman. I’m pretty sure she gets the concept of knowing better. This just wasn’t an instance where it was a concept that applied.
@AJ Stein — LOL.
if you do an image search of Meredith Carroll you will get why this article was written with such hollow condescention
condescension *
“Jealous much?? She looks beautiful and it’s no one’s business what she does. I know plenty of conservative dressing mothers who are far more of a bad influence on their children. It’s not like she’s naked and showing it all!”
If it was no one’s business what she does, then why would it be in a magazine? Yes, she looks beautiful, but she also looks like she’s wearing a costume that I might have worn at one point just to get attention from men. On Halloween. I do think that there are actions which we do before children which are completely innapropraite especially as mothers. There are many things that we do while young that we don’t do when we grow up because, you know, we grow up and realise that any and all actions we make effect others especially our children. I wouldn’t want my daughter dressed like this and so I won’t either. I don’t think this is a matter of women tearing apart women. We live in a world with freedom of speech, I would disagree with the way Ivanka is dressed whether she was a father or a mother. …on a less serious note that’s a pretty funny image.
yes, you are alone… she is wearing a dress and heels—— not a “skimpy outfit” get over your attention-grabbing moral paranoia