Nine years after an unthinking Instagram post sparked a media storm, former Vogue editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman is reflecting on the moment, now known as 'Bikini-gate,' and how her perspective has evolved.
In 2017, Shulman, then 59, posted a spontaneous photograph of herself in a bikini taken in a Greek holiday home. The image, intended as a casual capture of a happy moment, quickly became a news item, interpreted by some as a statement against unrealistic beauty standards. The ensuing public reaction, including numerous articles and debates about older women wearing bikinis, was a significant departure from Shulman's initial intention.
"Crazy as it seemed then – and still does now – the unthinking and completely unfiltered picture of myself with a podgy tummy, several mosquito bites and messy hair was being interpreted as a statement of some kind," Shulman wrote. "However, not of pleasure, as I had seen it, but of being unshackled from the chains of a world that set and perpetuated unrealistic ideals of beauty."
This period followed Shulman's departure from her role as editor-in-chief of Vogue, a move she described as a decision to pursue an interesting future beyond a high-profile past. At the time, she was unaware of the dramatic shifts occurring in the magazine industry and the personal challenges that lay ahead.
Health Battles and Shifting Priorities
In the years following the 'Bikini-gate' incident, Shulman's life took a significant turn with two cancer diagnoses. Four years after the viral photo, she underwent surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer, which left her with a long scar and a noticeable dent. Three years later, she was diagnosed with colon cancer, requiring surgical removal that left further scars on her torso. Despite these physical changes, Shulman expresses a nonchalance about her scars and her continued preference for wearing bikinis, attributing this in part to a "strange but helpful blind spot" regarding her body's appearance.
"I don’t mind these scars in the slightest and am fortunately blessed with some strange but helpful blind spot which means I don’t experience the lack of confidence so many women express when living in a body that looks so far from the ideal," she stated.
However, the psychological impact of facing serious illness has been profound, instilling a deep sense of vulnerability and a more acute awareness of life's fragility. This awareness has also been shaped by her partner, David, who has also battled cancer twice, and by the recent death of her mother just short of her 99th birthday. These experiences have collectively underscored the fleeting nature of time and the importance of cherishing each moment.
A New Perspective on Life
Shulman's current holiday in Greece, in the same house where the 'Bikini-gate' photo was taken, offers a point of reflection. While she still enjoys wearing bikinis, she notes that hormone treatment for breast cancer has led to weight gain, making her feel slightly less comfortable in them when navigating activities like boarding a boat in a group. She has packed one-piece swimsuits for such occasions.
"Five years of the hormone treatment I am on for the breast cancer has made me put on weight and, although I don’t mind in the slightest lying around the pool or on the beach in a bikini, I feel a bit less comfortable clambering on and off a boat among a large group – hence the one-pieces in the suitcase," she explained.
Despite the personal trials, including illness and loss, Shulman emphasizes that the past decade has also contained moments of joy, such as her marriage to David in April. Her reflections on social media, particularly Instagram, have also evolved. While she continues to use the platform as a public photo album, she now views it with a greater understanding of how information can be misinterpreted and how images can present a curated version of reality. Looking back at past photos, she acknowledges a melancholy awareness of the unknowns that lay ahead, but ultimately emphasizes a resolute appreciation for the present.
"But I do know more acutely than I ever did that our days are numbered and that, as they tick on by, we have to make the most of every minute we have," Shulman concluded.