Victoria’s Secret Model's Heartfelt Letter to Teens on Sex, Slut-shaming & Sharing Nude Pictures
The model has some wise words for young women. (Photo: Instagram/LeomieAnderson)
Victoria’s Secret supermodels are typically known for their stunning looks and enviable physiques they frequently flaunt in lingerie photoshoots, but one VS model is opening up about a troubling side of being photographed. However, she’s not talking about her professional photographs as a model, but more so the intimate photographs teens take of themselves that are later shared without their consent. 23-year-old Leomie Anderson, recently wrote an open letter to her fans on her website, touching upon taboo topics such as sexual consent and slut-shaming.
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Anderson writes that recent stories about young girls being slut shamed and sexually assaulted are what spurred her heartfelt letter, emphasizing that she wants her readers to know they have the right to say “no.” She explains that she grew up with limited social media, but that didn’t stop these kinds of photos from ending up in the wrong hands, spurring more negative conversations regarding any girl from school who was caught on camera acting provocatively or engaging in sexual conduct: “I still remember the buzz that would engulf the entire building when a girl from either our school or the neighboring schools got caught on camera doing something sexual or a sexual picture of hers got leaked.”
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As a model, Leomie explains that a big part of her job is giving consent for sharing her images, and she has learned that it’s vital to always speak up to her modeling agency when she doesn’t want to do something or doesn’t feel comfortable on set. “When you’re at school, you don’t have that,” Leomie adds, making it clear that it’s a trickier situation in real life.
The peer pressure for girls to send intimate pictures to the person they’re romantically involved with is extremely common, but Leomie confirms that for many girls, sharing these photos eventually becomes their biggest regret. “I can’t tell you not to do what you want but I can tell you that some girls I know say their biggest regret in school was sharing an intimate picture or getting into a scenario where a video had or could have been leaked so I just want you all to know that you do have the option to say NO,” she says.
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The biggest takeaway? Saying “no” to something you’re uncomfortable isn’t something women should be ashamed about. Leomie sums it up perfectly, finishing the post with: “Saying NO doesn’t make you scared or frigid, it makes you smart and mature- you never want someone to be able to hold something against you or expose you.”
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