Stripping down to their bras for a very public professional photoshoot just months after giving birth could be a very vulnerable and uncomfortable experience for some women, but Simone Holtznagel knows that when it comes to breastfeeding, sometimes there is no choice so she has done just that to help empower her fellow new mums.
The model and mother to 5-month-old daughter Gia is the face of Nala’s bold new Sorry To Offend You Campaign which aims to challenge the stigma around breastfeeding in public and champion the beauty of motherhood.
“For me, breastfeeding is such a natural beautiful thing, and anyone who has a problem with it or feels uncomfortable with it needs to look inwards and perhaps ask themselves why,” Holtznagel tells WHO. “If you’re not able to breastfeed that’s ok too. No parent should be made to feel shame either way. You have every right to feed your baby, wherever and whenever!”
Of course, this shoot is particularly special for the 31-year-old Aussie model and not just because of the campaign’s empowering message.
Gia joined her not just on the set but in front of the camera for her first shoot as Holtznagel is featured breastfeeding her in various public locations.
“It was so special!” she says. “As a working model, a lot of the time is spent in the studio, so as my first big campaign back post-baby, it was very cool to have my baby girl with me and for my mum to be there too! I can’t wait to show her these pictures when she’s older and tell her stories about the day.”
And with Holtznagel’s gorgeous genes, it’s not surprising to find out that Gia is also a natural.
“Gia couldn’t have been more perfect!” she says. “She loved all the new faces, the team was amazing, and G was definitely the centre of attention. After our first shots at Flinders Station, she fell asleep in her pram for 3 hours, so she was unfazed by the crowds and the new environment.”
In the campaign, Holtznagel is seen wearing the gorgeous, yet very practical and comfortable wire-free bras Nala designed especially for new mums.
Their new maternity range consists of the Maternity Support Wire-free Bralette and the Maternity Comfort Wire-free Bralette.
Both of the $69 bras feature feeding clips for easy access and hidden inner slings that help keep everything in place while you feed.
“I’ve been a fan of Nala since its launch three years ago,” says Holtznagel.
“I wore their wireless bras throughout my pregnancy, and I actually went into labour while wearing one of their bodysuits, which was a staple for me during my last few weeks of pregnancy. I love how comfortable their pieces are and how great they make me feel. As for the new Nala Maternity Bralettes, I’ve been wearing them constantly!”
