Madonna, the original Queen of Pop, rose to superstardom from her hit songs, her jaw-dropping dance moves, her influential style, and her bar-setting performances.
You could almost say that every pop start today pushes the envelope in terms of what they can do performance-wise because of Madonna.
Undeniable talent aside, there’s one other thing that really stamped Madonna’s name on the minds of many: her flair for all things provocative and scandalous.
Though today Madonna seems a tad reserved compared to when she was in her prime, she still hasn’t lost her proclivity for nudity. If you’ve never seen Madonna nude, well, where have you been? She’s always been comfortable in her own skin, and she hasn’t been shy about it. Even at 58, she shared a nude selfie on Instagram. Here, we highlight some of the best of Madonna’s naked moments.
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Madonna, Queen of Pop, Chief Provocateur
A singer, dancer, actor, and fashionista, Madonna is a cultural icon that has changed the way pop stars act and the way we look at pop culture as a whole. The New York Times even did a list on it.
Madonna’s career started when she tried her hand at becoming a backup dancer, as well as creating two bands before pursuing a solo career. Her first hit was ‘Everybody’, which became a club favourite when it was released in 1982.
Her rise to stardom came upon the success of her album Like A Virgin, which sold more than 5 million copies in the U.S. alone. From then on, Madonna went from one endeavour to another, writing an erotic coffee-table book, starring in several films, producing instant classic music videos, and of course, getting caught up in a lot of controversies.
Some of these scandals we briefly cover below, as they usually have to do with her ardent displays of nudity at a time when most pop culture was still conservative.
Her other memorable controversies include that time she lost her contract with Pepsi because of her ‘Like A Virgin’ music video, which was laden with sacrilegious imagery, that time she cursed all throughout her interview with David Letterman (and spoke about, you guessed it, sex), and that time she kissed Britney Spears onstage at the 2003 VMAs.
The Best of Madonna’s Nude Moments
1. Madonna Nude at the VMAs
In 1984, at her first-ever VMA performance, Madonna surprised viewers with a performance that had her emerge from a giant wedding cake while dressed as a bride-to-be – except the ensemble involved fingerless gloves, a belt that said “BOY TOY,” and a bustier. While writhing around on the stage, her bustier came loose and Madonna inadvertently flashed everyone watching.
2. Madonna’s Nude Illusion Bra
This is not exactly a moment of Madonna being naked, but to wear a nude-toned conical bra in the early ‘90s was a pretty controversial choice. Madonna wore this Jean Paul Gaultier-designed cone bra corset on her Blonde Ambition Tour.
3. Madonna Naked in Print
In 1992, at the height of her career, Madonna published an erotic coffee-table book entitled SEX. Writing under the pseudonym “Mistress Dita”, a tribute to German actress Dita Parlo. The book contained numerous photos of Madonna nude, as well as cameos of other celebrities famous at that time.
Of course, as only Madonna would do, the book featured imagery considered controversial at the time, from bondage to gay sex. The Vatican called for a boycott of SEX, yet today it remains the most wanted out-of-print book.
4. Madonna’s Nude MDNA Performances
As we mentioned, even as she was well into her 50s, Madonna has shown that she is never shy about showing her body. On her recent MDNA tour, Madonna showed some skin for audiences and even flashed her breasts at an Istanbul show.
5. Madonna’s Helmut Newton Photoshoot
Helmut Newton was a photographer and frequent Vogue collaborator. In a photo shoot with the late photographer, Madonna posed as a nude Liza Minelli in Cabaret. The pop star posted a throwback photo on Instagram in 2018, which many of her fans enjoyed.
6. Madonna’s Body Positive Throwback Photo
When Madonna had become world famous, photos of her posing nude as a young student surfaced and were splashed all over tabloids and Playboy Magazine.
What did Madonna tell the press then?
That she wasn’t ashamed. In an Instagram photo she posted in 2018, Madonna retells the story of how the photos came to be.
As a dance student trying to make rent, Madonna modelled for art students. The photographers exploited her and sold the photos when they realised their subject had become world famous.
7. Madonna Frees the Nipple (Again)
The #FreeTheNipple movement was created to raise awareness on double-standards against women, particularly nudity standards on social media sites, where women’s pics get flagged for “nudity” when baring nipples, but men don’t encounter the same strictness.
Joining the protest, Madonna posted a photo of herself completely naked, showing her butt while censoring her breasts.
She captioned the photo: “Why is it ok to show ass but not breasts? Drowning in the hypocrisy of social media”.
Conclusion
Madonna has never been one to shy away from the spotlight, even as her dress is falling off, leaving her naked on stage. In fact, Madonna revels in her sexuality and sensuality. She’s always been an advocate of body positivity and sex positivity, and she’s never been ashamed to show what she’s got. For that, we can thank her.
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