The Marie Claire Naked Issue is back, with slightly less of a big bang than last year.
In 2014, pictures of actress Boity Thulo in the Naked Issue went viral on the internet and spawned many memes.
This year’s reception was quieter and the cause behind this year’s issue was much more serious than it has ever been – rape.
“This is probably one of our most powerful Naked Issues yet. We are all vulnerable and naked in the face of the high rate of violent and sexual crime in South Africa against women and children,” Marie Claire editor Aspasia Karras told Mediaupdate.co.za.
The issue features 35 local celebrities, including singer Lira on the cover, actresses Pearl Thusi and Masasa Mbangeni, cricketer JP Duminy and his wife Sue, model Joelle Kayembe and radio personality Vic Naidoo. Members of the band Taxi Violence are completely naked and showing their genitals.
The Naked Issue this year will raise awareness of the Blow the Whistle campaign, an anti-rape drive, while all proceeds will go to the DNA Project, a not-for-profit organisation lobbying support for the expansion of the national DNA database and the development of crime-scene DNA forensics.
“The campaign aims to give a voice to the many thousands who suffer daily. Our aim is simple: to raise awareness and allow those who are victims to feel safe and to come forward and speak up,” Karras said.
She shared her own sexual abuse story with the launch of the issue and thanked all those who took part. “I want to thank the wonderful South African celebrities who took a stand in Marie Claire this month. Many have personal stories like mine or worse.”
BEST OF BOITY
@ntsikamsuthu: I don’t think any @marieclaire_sa naked edition caused a stir like the one with Boity. The 2015 #MCNaked is out today, let’s see what happens.
@bee_nana: Argh! There’s nothing Wow about the celebrities in this year’s #MCNaked issue. I like the Pearl and Msasa pic though. The rest are pssshhh.
@iamsuede: Will this year’s #MCNaked issue #breaktheinternet?
@phumlurv: There’s no hype with this year’s release of Marie Claire’s 2015 #mcnakedissue #mcnaked.
The Star