DROPPING her fur coat on to the red carpet to reveal a completely sheer mesh dress, Bianca Censori’s flesh-flashing display sparked a global backlash.
The showstopping moment at the Grammy Awards has led to fierce debate, with some hailing Kanye West’s wife as a feminist icon while others insist she should have shown more modesty.
Estelle and her pals love the freedom of Europe’s nudist beaches[/caption]
Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori went nude at the Grammy Awards on Sunday[/caption]
And Bianca’s shocking stunt seems the pinnacle of a recent trend in ‘naked’ dresses, embraced by the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Megan Fox and Rita Ora.
Someone who knows all too well how it feels to disrobe in front of strangers is 42-year-old Estelle Keeber, who regularly gets her kit off – and claims it sets a bold example to her kids.
The single mum and nudism campaigner from Leicester firmly believes that everyone should strip off in public as often as possible, no matter how old and wobbly their bits might be.
But, while Estelle applauds women for embracing nudity, she shares the concern of many about Bianca’s explicit publicity stunt.
She explains: “Kanye West and Bianca Censori’s latest stunt is being framed as art, but let’s be real – it’s just another example of nudity being used for shock value.
“As someone who openly shares my journey with nudism and body positivity, I’m all for free choice.
“People should be able to wear – or not wear – whatever they want without judgement.
“But when nudity is turned into a spectacle, it damages the real message behind body confidence and self-acceptance.”
Birthday suit
Since discovering nudism almost three years ago, Estelle has visited dozens more specialist beaches and spas.
She feels a liberating high every time she gets fully naked in public.
“The feeling of freedom and connection with nature that I got the first time has been one I’ve been chasing since that day,” she said.
“The feeling of having no clothes on is liberating – being naked and feeling powerful, brave and confident in yourself that you’ve been able to get to that point to take your clothes off.”
Returning from her first nudist holiday, Estelle proudly displayed her snaps on her office wall.
But her mortified teenage sons begged her to cover them up.
She said: “Nobody has tried to talk me out of it although my boys were mortified when those nude photos were on display in my office, they shouted at me to cover them up.”
Megan Fox dared to bare at the MTV awards in 2021[/caption]
Rita Ora’s red hot look[/caption]
Jennifer Lopez showed some skin in this shocking garb[/caption]
While Estelle defends the rights of women to be naked, she was concerned about Bianca’s nude stunt.
She adds: “What stood out the most to me was Bianca looked deeply uncomfortable.
“I have never seen anyone at a nudist beach or spa look so uneasy.
“Nudism and body confidence is about feeling free and comfortable—this was the complete opposite.
“It was a display of control, not confidence and freedom.
“Nude dresses are nothing new but the need to get attention in a very overcrowded social space has increased, pushing celebs to think they need to bare more to stay in the headlines.
“What happened at the Grammys was essentially indecent exposure yet, when a celebrity does it, it’s called ‘art’?
“This double standard sets a dangerous precedent, especially for young people navigating their own body confidence.
“Nudity itself isn’t the problem—but how it’s framed and the impact it has absolutely is.”
Nude awakening
Estelle was feeling far from her best the first time she took the plunge.
With her milestone 40th birthday looming, she was also nursing a broken heart having just split from her fiancé, and was grieving the loss of her grandmother.
On a whim she booked a week in the buff at a nudist beach in Spain.
She recruited best pal Sarah as her wingwoman and the pair shared an eye-opening experience, which transformed her life in ways she never imagined possible.
“I’d always been intrigued by the idea of nudist beaches, letting everyone see you for what you are, no filters, all your wobbly bits and scars on show,” she said.
Some onlookers feared Bianca had been forced into the outrageous stunt[/caption]
Estelle had noticed nudists beaches on holidays in the past, but at the time she was with her sons Jed and Obi, then aged eight and six, so had to wait for another opportunity to arise.
“Seeing those men and women so incredibly relaxed and happy resonated with me.
“But I didn’t want to shock my boys, and I’m not sure I was quite ready to strip off then anyway.
“That sowed a seed in my brain which grew and grew.”
As a professional social media expert, Estelle is sharply aware of the dangers of unreal body expectations.
Now she promotes body confidence among young people in a bid to redress the onslaught of destructive online pressure through her company Immortal Monkey.
And she regularly visits nudist beaches around Europe.
Estelle persuaded best pal Sarah to join her first starkers adventure[/caption]
Recalling her first time, she said: “In was in the run-up to my 40th I told my bestie my plan.
“The look on her face was priceless.
“But I was deadly serious, and we booked our flights.
“It wasn’t as easy as we thought, we’d spent all our lives in ultra-conservative Britain, where naked bodies are sexualised or something to snigger at.”
It was a complete rush, a real high,
Estelle Keeber
“I was filled with nerves, like most people probably would be taking their clothes off in front of strangers.
“Synchronised, we stripped off completely, laughing, and ran into the sea.
“Things we were worried about beforehand, such as people looking at you, all changes because nobody actually looks at you – everybody is in exactly the same situation.
Estelle celebrated her milestone birthday on a nudist beach[/caption]
As part of a campaign for nude pics to be allowed on social media, Estelle dressed up as a giant boob outside Facebook headquarters[/caption]
“We spent the whole day – and most of that night – naked as the day we were born.
“Skinny-dipping under the moon, it was the best birthday I’d ever had, and I knew I wanted this to be a regular part of my life.
“And I wanted to tell everyone – even my boys – about it.”
And she says her sons, now 16 and 14, are understanding about their mum’s unconventional lifestyle.
She explained: “We have a good level of respect.
“They are very open minded, it’s about educating them so they can decide for themselves whether this is the sort of lifestyle they would want but I’m not forcing my nudism on anybody – especially my children.”
Trust is a massive thing when it comes to nudism
Estelle Keeber
Since that first experience, Estelle has carried on baring her entire body – simply sunbathing topless is not satisfying enough anymore.
She explained: “A year after that trip I was on holiday in Corfu and decided to go topless which was liberating, but not the full package.
“That’s one of the beautiful things about nudism, we’re all stripped bare and there is nothing to hide behind.
“You are very vulnerable but it’s an empowering feeling knowing you’re all there together – nothing sets you apart.
“It gives you a sense of connection with the community.”
But Estelle insists there is nothing sexual about the experience.
“That’s probably one of the biggest misconceptions, most people think you go because you want to hook up with people, or you’re an exhibitionist.
“On all the beaches I’ve been to there is no sexual vibe, people are just enjoying the moment, enjoying the fact they can take their clothes off and connect with nature.
“Yes I have come across people who behaved inappropriately but it’s important to call out that behaviour.
“There are good and bad people as in all walks of life but since dipping my toes into nudism almost three years ago I’ve been to eight or nine different beaches and multiple spa visits with almost no issues.”
I’m not forcing my nudist lifestyle on anybody – especially my children
Estelle Keeber
Now Estelle has more nude adventures lined up, including a naked calendar, naked rambling, life drawing classes and the launch of her new podcast The Naked Truth.
Estelle is currently single but hopes to meet a man who has no issues with nudism.
She said: “It’s not massively important that they’re into the nudist scene but I would like my partner to be open minded and happy for me to do things that make me happy.
“The fact that we take our clothes off doesn’t make any difference, there should always be a level of trust within a relationship.”
Estelle says she does not care whether friends and family approve or not.
She added: “Most people were shocked at first and lots of people thought I was bonkers, but I just didn’t care.
“There was the odd person who said why on earth would you want to take your clothes off in front of strangers?
“The quite simple answer is the phenomenal benefits I get, so why would I not?”
Estelle wants others to understand her reasons for stripping: “This is my way of being real, embracing my forties in a healthy way.
“I’d got to a point where my body confidence wasn’t great.
“I’d suffered an horrific ectopic pregnancy after my eldest had been born, resulting in major surgery which left me with scars around my midriff.
“My body wasn’t as firm and pert in the right places as it had been.
“I wanted my children, and everyone, to see the real me without any sense of shame.”
Estelle and her brave pal Sarah found a beach in Spain where they felt liberated[/caption]
Holidays look and feel rather different for Estelle these days[/caption]
Estelle has successfully campaigned for Facebook to change their rigid policies on photos.
She explained: “I protested in a massive inflatable boob costume – against their policy of taking down photographs of post-cancer women who’ve had nipples tattooed on following breast surgery.
“Meta changed their algorithms as a result, which I’m incredibly proud of.
