ELLE Magazine Features Breastfeeding Cover Model

Breastfeeding in public is no biggie, yet time and again we hear stories of moms being shamed out of stores and restaurants, and of moms having their photos deleted from social media. Their crime? Feeding their babes. Yet in its June issue, Elle Australia is credited with "normalizing' breastfeeding" by featuring a cover model doing just that.

Call it a happy accident. When supermodel Nicole Trunfio was being photographed for the cover, her five-month-old son needed nursing. So she went behind the camera and did what came naturally. But rather than waiting it out, she was urged back in the limelight, and the cameras kept clicking.

“This wasn’t a contrived situation: Zion needed a feed, Nicole gave it to him, and when we saw how beautiful they looked we simply moved her onto the set,” said Elle Australia’s editor-in-chief.

For her part, like Gisele before her, Trunfio claims the cover wasn't borne out of a desire to be "controversial." She was simply a mom doing what moms do. Notwithstanding that she is wearing designer clothing, the result is a proud and beautiful moment between Trunfio and Zion.

“I’m so proud of this cover and what it stands for," said Trunfio. "I obviously don’t look like this or wear this while I am breastfeeding but this stands for all women out there, whether you breastfeed or not, we gave birth, we are women, we are mothers.”

She applauds Elle for taking the bold step in a positive direction. Unfortunately the cover is only available to subscribers, and won't be the one most of the paying public will see. The issue available on newsstands also features Zion, asleep, while mommy poses in a Prada dress.

Of course a much bolder step would have been to use the breastfeeding image as the main cover... But baby steps, people, baby steps. 

If images of women breastfeeding are all over mainstream media, then over time the act will hopefully lose its shock appeal.

^{Image Source: ELLE Australia}