Kim Kardashian pens essay on nude selfie, empowerment on Int’l Women’s Day

MANILA, Philippines – After firing back at her celebrity critics on Tuesday, March 8, Kim Kardashian took to her website to explain at greater length how she felt about the backlash over her nude selfie. (READ: Kim Kardashian fires back at celebrity critics over nude selfie)

While Kim’s Twitter rant was light – even casually referencing her husband Kanye West’s infamous Twitter rant about being in debt – the essay on her site took on a different tone.

“In all seriousness, I never understand why people get so bothered by what other people choose to do with their lives.

“I don’t do drugs, I hardly drink, I’ve never committed a crime – and yet I’m a bad role model for being proud of my body?”

Kim then said that all the judgement and criticism that people throw at her always leads back to the sex tape that was made 13 years ago that put her in the spotlight.

Kim and her then-boyfriend Ray J made a sex tape in 2003, which was leaked in 2007.

“I lived through the embarrassment and fear, and decided to say who cares, do better, move on. I shouldn’t have to constantly be on the defense, listing off my accomplishments just to prove that I am more than something that happened 13 years ago,” wrote Kim.

“Let’s move on, already. I have,” she added.

Kim’s essay was published on International Women’s Day. Before using the hashtag “#happyinternationalwomensday” to finish, the reality TV star took the opportunity to talk about what empowered her as a woman.

“I am empowered by my body. I am empowered by my sexuality. I am empowered by feeling comfortable in my skin. I am empowered by showing the world my flaws and not being afraid of what anyone is going to say about me. And I hope that through this platform I have been given, I can encourage the same empowerment for girls and women all over the world.

“I am empowered by my husband, who is so accepting and supportive and who has given me a newfound confidence in myself. He allows me to be me and loves me unconditionally.”

Kim also spoke about growing up with women and some of the things she’s learned and wants to impart on her daughter.

“I feel so lucky to have grown up surrounded by strong, driven, independent women. The life lessons I’ve learned from my sisters, my mother and my grandmother, I will pass along to my daughter,” wrote Kim.

Kim has two sisters and two half-sisters, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian, and Kendall and Kylie Jenner. All of them have starred in the reality show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, along with their mom, Kris Jenner and their brother Rob Kardashian. Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, is also on the show – she was married to Kris before coming out as a transgender woman.

“I want her to be proud of who she is. I want her to be comfortable in her body. I don’t want her to grow up in a world where she is made to feel less-than for embracing everything it means to be a woman,” Kim wrote about her two-year-old daughter, North West.

Kim finished by saying that in this day and age, she shouldn’t be made ashamed of her body.

“It’s 2016. The body-shaming and slut-shaming – it’s like, enough is enough. I will not live my life dictated by the issues you have with my sexuality. You be you and let me be me.

“I am a mother. I am a wife, a sister, a daughter, an entrepreneur, and I am allowed to be sexy.”

Among Kim’s celebrity critics were actress Chloë Grace Moretz, who tweeted Kim about setting an example for young women, and TV personality Piers Morgan, who offered to buy Kim clothes in light of Kanye’s alleged $53 million debt.

Bette Midler was also among them, saying, “If Kim wants us to see a part of her we’ve never seen, she’s gonna have to swallow the camera.”

These reactions and Kim’s succeeding replies on Twitter and her website were set off by a nude, censored photo that Kim posted on her social media accounts on March 7. – Rappler.com