It’s 2019. Yet, we’re really still here policing women’s bodies and deciding whether they should have body hair or not. Despite countless names telling them to politely shut up, time, and time, and time again. 

The latest victim of this is model Emily Ratajkowsi – who appears in the latest issue of Harper’s Bazaar US showing off her armpit hair and discussing women’s rights in an accompanying essay. 

“For me, body hair is another opportunity for women to exercise their ability to choose – a choice based on how they want to feel and their associations with having or not having body hair,” it reads. “On any given day, I tend to like to shave, but sometimes letting my body hair grow out is what makes me feel sexy.” 

To be clear, nobody is saying Ratajkowsi’s armpit hair is a political act (unless she deems it so herself) and she’s extremely privileged to be able to grow it as a cis, white, model – she unpacks this herself in the essay – yet, despite this, fans on IG have felt the need to comment their negative opinions. “Being a feminist doesn't mean leaveing your hygiene behind,” says one commenter, another adds: “So to be ‘hyper feminine’ means to let a bush grow under you arms. Sorry but it’s just disgusting to me.” Besides the hate, there are comments supporting the model from the likes of Ashley Graham and designer Christian Siriano.

“Young women are ripped apart from every angle as they grow up. In the era of selfies and social media, they are prone to immediate feedback and criticism,” Ratajkowsi muses in the essay. She’s not wrong, but the old adage ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say’ feels extremely apt here. So, again, let’s stop policing bodies fullstop – especially women with body hair.