London - As a singer and actress, she has often posed in skimpy swimwear to boost her celebrity profile.
When Jessica Simpson dressed her own four-month-old daughter in a bikini, however, it provoked a furious public backlash.
After the 32-year-old American showed a picture of the little girl on US television, critics described it as “wrong” and “just awful”.
Miss Simpson has also been criticised by British child welfare charity Kidscape for sexualising her baby with the “totally inappropriate” outfit.
She displayed the picture of daughter Maxwell during an interview with US TV host Katy Couric on her ABC show.
The baby, in a yellow bikini stretched over her nappy, was held up for the photo by an adult, who is not in shot. The image soon spread around the internet, attracting criticism of Miss Simpson, who lives in Los Angeles with her fiance, Eric Johnson, 32.
Claude Knights, the director of Kidscape, said on Tuesday: “It is very disturbing to see a young baby presented to the world wearing a bikini.
“Celebrity choices carry great influence, as can be seen by the manner in which their accessories and behaviours are copied widely.
“It is to be hoped that parents will understand that ‘baby bikinis’ are totally inappropriate, and that they contribute to the sexualisation and commercialisation of childhood.
“We should not be compromising the sanctity of our children’s early years.”
Others condemned the bikini on Twitter after seeing it online. One wrote: “Jessica Simpson posts a photo of her 4-month-old baby in a BIKINI – wrong wrong wrong.”
Another added: “A baby in a bikini?! Dear God, some people are just wrong!” A third wrote: “I just saw the most ridiculously posed photo of Jessica Simpson’s baby in a bikini. Just awful. Poor poppet.”
In January, supermodel Cindy Crawford was criticised for allowing her ten-year-old daughter Kaia to pose in a short skirt.
In a report last year into the sexualisation of children, Reg Bailey, chief executive of the Mothers’ Union, said: “Parents are telling us they are worried about the pressures on children to grow up too quickly.” - Daily Mail