5 Ways Hugh Hefner Influenced the Creation of the Modern-day Instagram Model
With the recent news of Hugh Hefner's death, the digital net has exploded with topics, discussions and full-blown arguments surrounding the controversial life of this "American Icon."
Like it or not, Hefner has been called both a sexual liberator and modern revolutionary for the sexual woman. While many of these claims have been met with heavy backlash from progressive feminists, one thing that cannot be denied is his great influence on the fiercely independent, overtly sexual body positive women being shared across our digital, mainstream world. Here are 5 ways the Playboy activist and rebel influenced our modern-day Instagram models:
1. He made sexy cool.
With the first launch of Playboy Magazine, Hefner used a portrait of then actress and model Marilyn Monroe to launch his empire. Known for her portrayals of overt feminine sexuality, Monroe's presence on the first cover helped align Hefner's message to the public: sexy was cool.
And that message continues to resonate today. Boasting millions of followers, Lira Mercer, claimed Instagram model/actress, regularly shows off her body across social media platforms, exuding her belief in her manifested sexuality.
2. He publicized private parts.
Following the "leaking" of her notorious sex tape, Kim Kardashian West (known back then as only Kim Kardashian) posed on the cover of Playboy magazine. Hefner's usage of the reality personality on his magazine directly following her public debut on the sex tape sent the world another reeling message: private parts can be public parts, too.
And posts by popular Instagram model Sahara Ray proves Hefner's truth.
3. He proved that all races could be sexy. No exclusions.
While he showed no shame for his preference for white, blonde bunnies, Hefner had an array of multicultural covers, beginning with his debut of Darine Stern as the first African American playmate to grace the cover of his magazine.
4. He helped create our notion of the ideal sexual body.
All Playboy covers clearly depicted and commercialized the ideal American female body: tall, long-legged with a small midriff.
5. He aligned the normalization of nudity with confidence.
Hefner promoted Playboy magazine as entertainment for men, but aligned his tantalizing magazine displays with a variety of women that could only be described as confident and ferocious.
And confidence, as Instagram model Yovanna Ventura proves, will always make you the talk of the town.
Make no mistake - many of Hugh Hefner's outlandish behaviors and chauvinistic tendencies were toxic to his playmates. But the choice he provided them with proves an essential characteristic and benefit to the legacy he left behind - choice is power. By wholeheartedly creating and sustaining the American public's attention, fascination and obsession with the female physique, he chose to celebrate women's bodies the best way he knew how. And it is with this power that we must make the difficult choice to reframe the public's attention away from our bodies and towards the strengths we hold within us.
Hugh Hefner helped to free our bodies. Lets make the final step and free our minds, too.