Nothing goes together better than custom Versace and breast pumps, or at least that’s what covergirl Rachel McAdams and the editors over at Girls. Girls. Girls. Magazine believe. Though she’s proved herself to be an extraordinary actress over the years, McAdams has now made headlines as a kickass mom in a viral photo, and it’s everything the world ever wanted and more.
In the most recent cover shoot for the magazine, creator and photographer Claire Rothstein captures the “Mean Girls” actress in all her motherly glory. McAdams is a vision, draped in custom Versace, Bulgari diamonds and, shockingly, a breast pump. According to an Instagram post of Rothstein’s, McAdams was six months postpartum and still nursing during the time of the shoot, needing to express milk between takes. Hence, the iconic photo was born.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Brhe4xHgQqY/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
“A million reasons why I wanted to post this picture … Breastfeeding is the most normal thing in the world and I can’t for the life of me imagine why or how it is ever frowned upon or scared of. I don’t even think it needs explaining but just wanted to put this out there, as if it even changes one person’s perception of something so natural, so normal, so amazing then that’s great,” writes Rothstein in the post.
Unfortunately, breastfeeding, especially breastfeeding in public, is a major topic of controversy for a lot of people. Though it is natural and necessary and often out of mothers’ control, there are those out there that squirm at the sight of a unsexualized breast, thus leading women to feel ashamed. According to a survey done by Public Health England’s parenting service Start4Life, six out of 10 women feel embarrassed to breastfeed in public and around 50 percent of people thought it was inappropriate for women to breastfeed in public areas like restaurants and public transport.
Despite it being illegal to ask a breastfeeding woman to leave a public space, there have been many instances over the years of women being asked to cover up. A mother on vacation in Mexico was told to do so while seated in the back of a restaurant, and another mom from Washington was asked the same thing while nursing in a McDonalds. Their response? To quite literally cover themselves up by throwing blankets over their heads.
Two women in Minnesota even had the cops called on them for breastfeeding at a public pool, to which they responded with a discrimination lawsuit and a protest spearheaded by other moms. High-profile stars like Mila Kunis can’t escape the scrutiny either, with the actress previously hitting back at breastfeeding shamers: “Why did I do it in public? Because I had to feed my child. She’s hungry. I need to feed her whether it’s out of a bottle or out of my boob no matter where I was.”
Additionally, breastfeeding also serves as a clear, unadulterated representation of motherhood, a concept people don’t usually tie with glamour and glitz. The ludicrous myth that moms are weighed down from motherhood and can never manage more than a pair of old sweats is fiercely debunked by McAdams’ photo. Much to the delight of moms everywhere, the actress shows not even a hint of embarrassment as she sits proudly with her hands on her knees, sporting a bold red lip and staring down the camera. As Rothstein puts it, “she’s wearing Versace and @bulgariofficial diamonds and is just f—ing major.”
Women everywhere have taken to the Internet to express their excitement and adoration for the picture. “This photo of rachel mcadams breast feeding while wearing versace and dripped in bulgari diamonds is proof that yes, actually, women really can have it all,” one woman wrote. Another shared her plans to get the photo framed.
don’t mind me just framing this photo of Rachel McAdams shot by Claire Rothstein pic.twitter.com/4ttM599sz4
— Maggy (@maggyvaneijk) December 19, 2018
And the fans are right; nothing quite screams “f— you” to mommy-shamers like a hot, A-list actress pumping out breast milk in designer fashion and diamonds. It’s the definition of iconic. But even more than that, it’s incredibly honest. Together, Rothstein and McAdams symbolically wrecked all the breastfeeding haters and any person who thinks moms can’t keep serving looks, even while doing the most “awkward” mom-thing there is.
McAdams, who has an 8-month-old son with her boyfriend James Linden, notably keeps most aspects of her private life under wraps, including her pregnancy and child. Unlike many of her fellow celebrity moms, the Oscar nominee never even confirmed she was pregnant, though she proudly stepped out on the town with her undeniable baby bump on full display. She still hasn’t revealed the name of her son, telling The Sunday Times, “I want to keep his life private, even if mine isn’t.” She plans on keeping her son’s life out of the public eye and off social media platforms.
On motherhood, “The Notebook” star said, “It’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me, hands down,” adding, “[People say] your life is not your own anymore, but I had 39 years of me, I was sick of me, I was so happy to put the focus on some other person.”
Obviously, McAdams is extremely proud to be a mother and is not afraid to flaunt the realities that come with it. In her Instagram post, Rothstein writes, “We had a mutual appreciation disagreement about who’s idea it was to take this picture but I’m still sure it was hers which makes me love her even more.”
Long story short, McAdams is straight fire and Girls. Girls. Girls. Magazine knows exactly what they’re doing. The stigma surrounding breastfeeding continues to prevail across the globe but empowering photos like this and the message it carries speaks volumes to the women who feel the need to be ashamed of their bodies. If McAdams can be a breast-pumping queen drenched in diamonds, then anyone can (or at least occupy the mindset). To all the moms out there, this one’s for you. Keep killing it.
