The secret meaning behind celebs’ shower poses & the ‘hard graft’ that went into Amanda Holden’s ‘naughty but nice’ look
FROM getting steamy in the bathroom, to showing off their assets in a refreshingly cool outdoor shower, it seems like every celeb is unleashing their inner shower power this summer.
From Jennifer Lopez getting caught in a downpour in her latest music video Can’t Get Enough, to Brazilian top model Lais Ribeiro cooling down in the Caribbean, the sexy celeb shower trend is back.
Body language expert Judi James believes the pose is all about taking back control.
She says: “Power Shower Poses allow a celebrity to look sensual but wholesome.
“The act of showering validates the nudity or near-nudity, making it the classiest way to show off your body, while the streaming water is both flattering and erotic.
“Self-touching, preening and body stretching rituals can all work under a shower without the photos looking like the centrefold of a lads’ mag.
“When Myleene Klass did her iconic shower poses on I’m A Celebrity she also gave the green light to women wanting to strip but without any loss to their brand in terms of intellect or being fit for family viewing.
“A celebrity retains power and control with a shower pose as they can go as far as they like or keep it as coy as they want.
“Even when there’s just a peek of a bare shoulder visible, the implied nudity will still make them seem daring, cool and current.”
Here, Judi reveals why celebs are going wet ‘n’ wild for power shower pictures.
Lais Ribeiro – Power Pitting
MODEL Lais Ribeiro took a shower to promote swimwear brand FAE.
The Brazilian, 33, who wed former basketball player Joakim Noah this month, cooled off whilst on a boat in the caribbean.
Judi says: “This is a trickling shower that creates no disruption to Lais’s facial expression – we normally wince or squint as we get a face-full of pressurised shower water – allowing her to look closed-eyed lost in the moment as she performs the Power-pit pose.
“With her elbows raised and her armpits fully on display she registers superior power, status and confidence.
“The under-boob lets us know she’s as sexy as hell while those perfect pits are a statement of beauty and brand superiority.”
J-Lo – Waterproof
Jennifer Lopez promoted her hot music video earlier this year by cooling down in the shower.
The singer, 55, proved she is a true diva, as she appeared to stay dry whilst standing underneath a shower.
Judi says: “Only a diva like J-Lo would get wet without looking like she’s getting wet.
“There’s no effect of the water on her here, her facial expression remains fierce and sultry while her pose is similar, implying it would take more than a good drenching or hosing down to make her go off-brand.
“The girl’s not even pretending to do anything as ordinary as washing, she’s just allowing the water to add an extra element to her pose here. Formidable and resilient.”
Kendall Jenner – Laundry Time
KENDALL Jenner wowed in true top model form as she modelled for FWRD magazine’s Summer 2024 issue.
The 28 year old showed how she can work the camera even when she’s in the shower.
Judi says: “Kendall includes some raunchy wrangling with her top with her shower pose as though she’s doubling up her ablutions with doing the laundry.
“There are glimpses of her bum and boobs in close-up and even a shot where she just sits watching a guy take a shower, which makes her look like a practical double-bagger who also likes to register her own power over men at the same time as showing off her figure.”
KIM – Wet Goodness
KIM Kardashian is always ahead of the trends.
Judi says: “Kim doesn’t do anything like wash, swim or even adopt a proper pose, she’s in her signature ‘goddess’ mode here, standing stock still and symmetric in front of the camera in an expressionless display of her hourglass figure and ability to spill out of a bikini top.
“The jewellery adds a touch of class or wealth here and she is clearly confident that we don’t need to see her head or face to recognise this damped-down statement torso belongs to her.”
Amanda Holden – Nice but Naughty
BRITAIN’S Got Talent judge Amanda Holden goes for an outdoor shower to wake herself up.
Amanda, 53, blessed her two million Instagram followers with a picture of her showering in a bikini whilst giving them a very pleasant “morning”.
But not everyone was a fan, as she was cruelly mum-shamed by vile influencer Andrew Tate, 36, who said there was “no need for this post” as she is a “wife and a mother” and “far past a teenager.”
Judi says: “Amanda blends family viewing with risqué reveals, which is why this Carry On-style ‘Oh you caught me in the shower’ pose is integral to keep the ‘Nice’ in there with the ‘Naughty’.
“It’s a very contrived pose, looking back over her shoulder to suggest she’s been surprised mid-shower, although her face is lit to perfection, suggesting she’s put a lot of graft into looking spontaneous here.”
How to recreate the pose
Influencer Georgie Clarke, from South West London reveals her top tips to perfect the perfect camera ready pose.
Stretch out your body
Whether that’s arms high up, leaning back or to the side, stretching out your torso and leaving space around your waist will flatter you.
And face your legs towards the camera to make your pins seem longer.
Test the lighting first
Try different angles to see which lighting is most flattering.
If you can, find where the lighting hits your face and body in a way that highlights your favourite features and shadows the things you are most insecure about.
Copy others
I have a few photos of other influencers and celebs stored in a folder so I can test which pose works best for my body in a way I wouldn’t have thought of.
Strike a pose
After you have tested out your poses, try laughing and smiling candid shots.
Take a few then check to see which you like and dislike.
Go back and take more of what worked best. I do this four to five times as it helps me see what is being captured in the image.
Don’t ignore your hands
Having your hands down by your sides will just look awkward.
Bend your arms and hold them around belly button height for a natural shot.
Helen Flanagan – Lacking Vanity
FORMER Corrie actress Helen Flanagen is regularly causing a stir with the raunchy pictures she uploads to Instagram.
But Helen, 33, doesn’t let the mum-shamers get to her, and it’s clear with this shower snap.
Judi says: “Topless and with her back to the camera, Helen stands staring into the corner of the shower in a pose made infamous at the end of the Blair Witch movie.
“She’s hiking up her bottoms with her thumbs but she looks genuinely oblivious to the camera behind her, and not even keen to show it’s her.
“The pictures show that she is sweetly lost in thought but also lacking in vanity).”
Em Ratajkowski – Superior and defiant
NEVER afraid to show off some skin, Emily Ratajkowski takes pride with her shower selfies.
The model, 33, took to Instagram to share her steamy picture, which included her modelling her own swimwear range.
Judi says: “In full make-up and clad in her itsy bitsy swimwear, Emily’s shower pose looks the least convincing of the lot in terms of authentic ablutions.
“The sense of power is visible though in the way she throws her hands behind her head to bare her armpits in a gesture of utter confidence.”
Gigi Hadid – The Grafter
SUPERMODEL Gigi Hadid has become a huge success with her graft and she knows how to work the camera.
The mum, 29, presents elegance and class and proves that she is one up from the rest in this powerful snap.
Judi says: “A for effort for Gigi thought, who has created an arty and nonsensical pose to ensure she looks haughty, elegant and elitist.
“Her toe is on point and she seems to be climbing up into the shower head.
“The effect is to show her long body and limbs to full effect and of course there’s no glimpse of any soap on a rope or shower gel to suggest she was really getting clean.
“A-list elegance and superior sensuality, sexy but out of reach of mere mortals.”