Candice Swanepoel Opens Up About Being Shamed for Breastfeeding in Public

Supermodel Candice Swanepoel is no stranger to baring it all on the Victoria's Secret runway, but the Angel, who gave birth to her son Anacã with fiancé Hermann Nicoli in October, is getting real about the unjust shame associated with breastfeeding children in public places.

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Candice Swanepoel posted an intimate black-and-white photo on Instagram of her son breastfeeding while also sharing her own thoughts on the current preconceived notions that swirl around the practice of it, particularly in public. In doing so, Swanepoel also makes an astute observation of the double standard between topless and, well, just being topless (or in this specific case, feeding your child).

"Many women today are shamed for breastfeeding in public or even kicked out of public places for feeding their children," she wrote in the post, below. "I have been made to feel the need to cover up and somewhat shy to feed my baby in public places but strangely feel nothing for the topless editorials I've done in the name of art..?"

She added, "The world has been desensitized to the sexualization of the breast and to violence on TV...why should it be different when it comes to breastfeeding? Breastfeeding is not sexual it's natural. Those who feel it is wrong to feed your child in public need to get educated on the benefits breastfeeding has on mother and child and intern [sic] on society as a whole."

Preach, Candice. The Angel joins the ranks of other celebrity moms who are destigmatizing breastfeeding in public one Instagram or interview at a time. Point is, no one ever has the right to judge a mom—supermodel or otherwise—for feeding her hungry child.

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