Kim Kardashian’s nude selfie sends body positive message

After tweeting a nude selfie last week, Kim Kardashian made it clear that she does what she wants with her body. And while this selfie may not have broken the internet, it definitely got everyone talking.

The photo, that contains censoring bars across her chest and hips, received early criticism from Bette Midler, Piers Morgan and Chloe Grace Moretz. While Kim has never been one to shy away from defending her decisions, many thought her Twitter clapback was Kanye-inspired.

In a shocking twist, Amber Rose came to Kim’s defense along with Ariel Winter and former Disney starlet Bella Thorne. Abigail Breslin summed up the problem with the criticism of Kim’s photo: the blatant double standard that occurs where men can be “steamy and hot,” but women “set a bad example.”

Still there were critics, such as P!nk who said that Kim was not fighting a social issue, but rather just being attention-seeking and using her body to make money. This is the same Pink who gave a stunning “Glitter in the Air” performance at the Grammy’s in an outfit made out of nothing but glitter and a thick piece of string.

It would be ignorant to say that Kim Kardashian did not post this selfie for attention — clearly she wanted attention. This, however, does not detract from her message of body positivity and acceptance.

While some people still whine about Kim being famous for nothing, her body is a major part of her brand not unlike many models (Chloë Grace Moretz) and actors (Chloë Grace Moretz).

Talking about this issue as a non-celebrity can be a little confusing. In the real world, most people are not posting nudes on our Instagram screaming body positivity — well that is unless you’re Lena Dunham.

This is not a call for everyone to start cluttering my Facebook timeline with pictures of their birthday suits. Rather, this is a call for everyone to see that double standards exist and that a woman’s body belongs to her.

If people would take their Kardashian-hating glasses off for two seconds, they would see that it is not the right of anyone to tell someone what they can and cannot do with their body. It is not the right of anyone to condemn actions of one person while condoning them from another. It is not the right of anyone to try to shame someone for living their life.

Kim Kardashian made the situation into a timely International Women’s Day post, sharing her thoughts on the controversy. By discussing how she feels empowered by her body confidence, the reality T.V. star explained how she hopes to inspire girls and women to love themselves and be comfortable in their skin.

Now, Kim Kardashian may not be the role model you want her to be and her antics at times can seem contrived and attention-seeking, but it’s 2016 and as she so eloquently stated, “You be you and let me be me.”