Is Emily Ratajkowski’s NY Times best seller book “My Body” worth the read?

The NY times best seller personal memoir, "My Body", is written by the world renowned public figure, Emily Ratajkowski; acclaimed American model, actress, political progressor, and newly known as a writer.

“My Body” is organised by a collection of essays, which are all tied to the primary themes of contrasting and exploring the personal journey of body empowerment, personal contemplation and self-discovery. The main narrative and concept of feminism, body image, and the objectification and perverse dynamic of women in the entertainment industry are considerably the most discussed topics throughout the course of the read. Emrata also raises deep concerns about the chronic and persistent issue of sexual assault and harassment in the industry, which are essentially dominated by male representors. Therefore constantly questioning as well as criticising societal norms and ideals of female sexuality, standardised beauty, and the toxic body image in today's society.

Essentially, at the beginning of the book, Emrata discusses how she rocketed to fame due to the video “Blurred Lines,” where she was heavily sexualized, thus bringing to light the concept of young vulnerable women being exploited and taken advantage of in the modelling industry; as she herself has confronted.

Throughout the course of the book, Ratajkowski takes into account her personal experiences of how her professional and private life has been heavily and profoundly impacted by the various encounters surrounding the objectification and sexualization of women. Specifically as she navigates the competitive modelling industry from a very early age, where demands and expectations are directly imposed on models, thereby young vulnerable women are expected to conform into a limited and unattainable beauty standard. Furthermore, from her own personal experience, Ratajkowski writes on how this has imposed negative stereotypes and beauty standards, a toxic aspect into her emotional and physical well-being.

In conclusion, it becomes apparent to the readers how she has matured, learned to value and further celebrate her body in her own terms. Thus, taking into account her experiences within being widely criticised and her past surrounded by harsh memories in her career and transforming them into strong views on body positivity and feminism. Hence, I strongly recommend this book, as it will inspire a reflective construction of such a predominant topic in today's norms. With that, it can be said that the strongest and most direct message of “My Body” is tied to the idea of encouraging readers to reflect upon the behaviours and stereotypical form on how society views, perceives and treats women's bodies.