The actor, whose unshaven look was so inspiring in the 1990s, is a living embodiment of how the way we present ourselves is always a form of self expression
Can someone ever just wear clothes without making ‘a fashion statement’?
No. Everything you wear, Daniel, is a statement about you, I’m afraid, even if that statement is: “I am so scared of anyone thinking I care about how I look that I am wearing the same gross T-shirt, Gap jeans and trainers combo I have been wearing since I was seven. I am now 41.” This is what people who make fun of fashion never understand: making fun of fashion is like making fun of water, or air, because every single one of us makes a fashion statement every day. Every clothing choice you make – from what coat you buy to whether you get a bobble hat or not – says something about you: who you are, who you want people to think you are, who you would like to be. To paraphrase Ron Burgundy, we are all trapped in a glass cage of self-expression and everything we do and everything we wear expresses some part of ourselves.
But not everything is quite the statement we might think it is. I came of age in the 90s, which was kind of a cool era for a burgeoning feminist to come of age in, fashion-wise, given that women’s fashion seemed to be entirely based on looking as unappealing to the male gaze as possible. I based my whole wardrobe on Janeane Garofalo’s signature look of floral dresses, ripped black tights and clompy flat shoes, which she perfected in The Garry Shandling Show, Reality Bites and The Truth About Cats and Dogs. (Although that last film was a bit of a kick in the teeth, with its message that Garofalo – gorgeous, slim – was an unacceptable fat troll and men would only find her attractive if she looked like Uma Thurman. Honestly, I could – and probably one day will – write a whole book about the weird messages in 90s romcoms.) Back then, people didn’t talk about actual feminism that much. Instead, it was seen as something outdated, a relic of the 70s, and this lack of interest, as Ariel Levy later wrote in her seminal book Female Chauvinist Pigs, led to the rise of raunch culture, laddism and Paris Hilton. And if that isn’t proof of the importance of feminism then there is no convincing you people.
So we budding feminists had to grab what little inspiration there was where we could find it: sure, there was Hillary Rodham out there, telling people she “could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do instead was to fulfil my profession,” which was pretty damn baller of my Hills. Alas, people got rather cross about that and a lot of top experts (ie, me) think you can trace a direct line from that quote to her losing the presidency contest 20 years later. So while it was an inspiring quote, it didn’t work out so well. Instead, what we 90s kids had was Julia Roberts’s armpit hair.
In 1999, Roberts came to the London premiere of Notting Hill, raised her arm to the crowd, showed her underarm hair and promptly created one of the seminal 1990s feminist statements, which says a lot about the 90s. Except, it turns out, Roberts wasn’t trying to do that at all. She was interviewed recently on the actor Busy Phillips’s rather charming new chatshow, Busy Tonight, and Phillips asked her about Bodyhairgate.
“I just hadn’t really calculated my sleeve length and the waving and how those two things would go together and reveal personal things about me,” Roberts said. “So it wasn’t so much a statement, as it’s just part of the statement I make as a human on the planet, for myself.”
But Julia! That is a feminist statement. Roberts might not have consciously set out that night to be the new Andrea Dworkin. But the fact that she – probably the most famous female actor on the planet back thengoing to the premiere of a movie that was literally all about how impossibly gorgeous and universally adored she was – chose not to shave under her arms was a brilliant feminist statement, because it was such a rejection of all the standardised beauty norms she was widely assumed to personify.
This column has had harsh words in the past for women (Emily Ratajkowski) who claim everything they do, from Instagramming their cleavage to pole dancing, is a feminist statement because they are a woman and, like, yeah. What is fascinating about Roberts is she is doing the opposite: insisting that her clearly feminist act is not feminist because it is just who she is. And that is exactly how feminism should be – so normalised that it is not a separate act, just a natural form of self-expression. Oh, Julia. We have missed you.
6 Women Who Proved Hairy Armpits Can Be Empowering
Few topics have sparked as much debate and scrutiny as female body hair. When a woman chooses to have hairy armpits, she’s “gross” and “lazy.” But no one bats an eyelash when a man does the same. This stark double standard reveals the bias ingrained in our society and the unwritten gender norms that dictate that women must have smooth, hairless bodies.
Shaving or not shaving your underarm fuzz should be a personal choice, like picking out a summer dress or trying different blush colors. If you’re considering putting down the razor, perhaps these celebrities who have publicly shown their hairy armpits can offer extra motivation. Ready for some female celebrity armpits? Below, we’ve rounded up a list of Hollywood icons who took the “long hair, don’t care” catchphrase to another level.
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren is an Academy Award-winning actress, one of the world’s most beautiful women, and a firm believer that hairy armpits are sexy. Throughout her 60-year (and counting) acting career, she has proudly flaunted her unshaven underarms on and off the silver screen. When everyone thought her disregard for body hair removal would have dimmed her stardom, the opposite happened. Her popularity rose and she stood out among other Hollywood starlets at the time, redefining bombshell beauty.
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts has never been one to shy away from breaking the rules. The renowned actress made headlines at the premiere of her iconic rom-com Notting Hill in 1999, but not just because of her gleaming smile. It was the glorious display of armpit hair peeking through her red sequined dress that stole the spotlight.
Nearly two decades later, Roberts revealed that her intention wasn’t to make a deliberate statement against beauty standards. Her reasoning was surprisingly simple: she had forgotten to shave. Regardless of the agenda, the iconic moment served as a reminder that body hair belongs on the red carpet, too.
Rachel McAdams
Too busy to shave your underarms? It happens even to A-listers like Rachel McAdams. The actress-slash-mother recently graced the cover of a magazine with full sass and hairy armpits in sight. For the shoot, she asked that all the images be retouched as minimally as possible. All the details, from the stubble under her arms to her smile lines, made her look more charming than ever.
While some haters were quick to post disapproving comments, more supporters felt inspired to embrace their bodies as they are, hair and all. What matters is you feel comfortable with your choice. For a confidence boost, nourish your underarms with Dove 0% Aluminum Deodorant Roll-On. It’s a gentle deo formulated with moisturizing cream to naturally ward off BO and smoothen your underarms in one go.
Emma Corrin
Growing out body hair was a cathartic post-breakup decision for Emma Corrin. After years of shaving, they quickly realized that going au naturel is not so bad. Think of all the advantages: no more razor burns, fewer expenses, and more free time. Ever since this revelation, Corrin has displayed hairy armpits (and unshaven legs!) on not one, but two magazine covers. Talk about a power move!
Janelle Monáe
The multi-hyphenate Janelle Monáe serves her best looks on every occasion, and her 2022 Met Gala appearance was no exception. If you need a refresher, the theme was Gilded Glamour, which she embodied with a head-to-toe sparkling Ralph Lauren dress and underarm fluff, challenging the very definition of a sexy armpit. It wasn’t a one-time occurrence either, as she continued sporting hairy armpits during the 2023 Pride Month festivities. She slayed even when she didn’t shave.
Michelle Rodriguez
Have you ever wondered how women would fare in a fantasy, post-apocalyptic world? Since shaving would be a thing of the past, your armpit locks would naturally grow in full force, as demonstrated in Michelle Rodriguez’s portrayal of Holga in the Dungeons and Dragons 2023 adaptation. To bring authenticity to the character, Rodriguez bid farewell to her razor for three solid months, proudly displaying her hairy armpits on and off the set. TBH, she looks more badass than ever!
While there are a few individuals who do not grow body hair, it’s normal to have hairy armpits. Whether you like having hairy armpits or prefer them bare, the empowering message remains the same: it’s all about choice and embracing what makes you feel confident. Remember that your body, your rules.
