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Model Slams Instagram for Nude Pregnancy Photo Ban
29 Mar
Summary
- Instagram removed a pregnant model's naked photo on Mother's Day.
- The model called the removal a double standard against female empowerment.
- A similar photo posted last year was not removed by the platform.
Model Erin O'Connor recently had a photograph of herself naked and pregnant removed from Instagram on Mother's Day. The 48-year-old model posted the black-and-white image, taken in 2014 by Nick Knight, to celebrate maternal power and the "abundance of life." However, Instagram's parent company, Meta, deleted the post, stating it breached "nudity guidelines."
O'Connor expressed her dismay, labeling the decision a double standard. She highlighted that a similar photo from the previous year, posted on March 30, 2025, was not removed. The model argued that a pregnant body in its "full power" should not be perceived as offensive, especially when compared to the prevalent hypersexualization of women online and in art.
Speaking at the National Gallery, O'Connor shared her journey to body acceptance over her 30-year career, noting that only in the last three years had she felt comfortable in her own skin. She described the ban as "so annoying" and a "shame" in the 21st century, contrasting it with art displayed in galleries. O'Connor stated the photo's intent was about "expectation" and the "extraordinary" ability of the body to sustain new life.
