The images below are from a slide show to accompany the cover of a British magazine, Bizarre. You can see the slide show and the article accompanying her cover here. Thanks to Jason S. for the link!
What makes Viktoria “bizarre”? Is it her amputated leg? Is it the fact that she has an amputated leg and is still incredibly sexy? Or is it that she has an amputated leg and still considers herself a sexual person?
Is this empowering? And to who? Surely the disabled are desexualized in this country, so it’s nice to see that challenged even, I suppose, in a magazine about weirdos. And yet, I suspect her sexuality is acceptable, fetishizable, only because she conforms to expectations of feminine beauty. In the big scheme of things, does she reproduce the standard of beauty, unattainable for most women, that crushes women’s self-esteem and sense of self-worth? And will disabled women, most of whom (like most non-disabled women) could never dream of being so beautiful, actually look at her and be able to identify? Or will this just draw attention to another way in which they don’t match up?
Also, are these images really about her sexual-ness, her desire? Or are they about how sexy she is, the extent to which she can inspire desire in others? That is, is she just an object like any other pin-up girl? How are her images any different than those in mainstream pornography and men’s magazines? She speaks in the article about her own sexual curiosity and openness, but this is standard porn star talk and it’s very difficult to know whether it is genuine or performance. Would it matter if we knew?
This photo shoot of Viktoria for Bizarre magazine actually seems incredibly ordinary to me.
UPDATE: Comments on this post have been closed.
Comments 27
Dangger — June 3, 2008
I think that you are the one objectifying Viktoria. Would you be noting this picture if it was about a woman with two legs? Now because she only has one do you notice it? Maybe the people who publish the magazine thought the same as you but I don't think there's anything special about it. I am sorry :S
MW — June 3, 2008
If you read the interview the accompanies the spread, she says that she had her leg amputated because it was deformed and weak. From what I can tell, there was no medical necessity [e.g., necrosis, cancer, parasites, etc.]. So that adds a whole new level of self-fashioning and reforming of one's body to the mix.
Rosie — June 3, 2008
Hang on... Where does it say she's a porn star? I think you're reading things into the text that you WANT to see there...
How is the interview and how are the images different from the standard WOMEN'S magazine interviews and pictures? To me, she comes across as strong-minded, independent, and an incredibly positive role model for the disabled.
Fat Girl Shrinking — June 3, 2008
If you read the article you linked, it states very clearly (in my opinion) that this type of dress and pictures are an extension of her sexuality. I think she is beautiful, regardless of her amputee status. And I would find her beauful because of her personality along with her looks.
She also exhibits traits seen among "alternative" women, the punk look that is fairly standard. Check out blueblood.net (NSFW) for other images like this.
Also, in that particular fashion/photography world, personality matters so much more than looks. A model might show up looking like Viktoria, but the personality has to match the look.
Interrobang — June 3, 2008
To me, she comes across as strong-minded, independent, and an incredibly positive role model for the disabled.
Are you actually disabled? If not, could you please retract that comment? I am disabled, and I don't exactly think seeing a person presenting as a fetish object is a "positive role model."
In fact, speaking as someone who's thought and observed a lot about the issue of disabled women's sexuality (I'm a disabled radical feminist), I'd say "fetish object" is one of the two major sexual roles disabled women are allowed to have in popular culture. (The other one is "asexual," so we may in fact be worse off than the able-bodied woman, who at least can present as a "virgin" figure with the expectation that at some point, she will get to have sex.) The fact that the fetish is considered to be a niche just makes it worse.
If we're talking about "positive role models" for disabled women in particular, where are the media portrayals of, say, disabled female entrepreneurs, athletes, scientists, or people who actually do something other than cater to the heterosexual male gaze in a certain socially-prescribed way?
From where I'm sitting, these images are less positive than what radfem blogger Twisty Faster calls "empowerful."
Snuggs — June 6, 2008
"A magazine about weirdos". There's open minded!
Sociological Images » Guest Post: What Does “Alt Model” Even Mean? — June 8, 2008
[...] Please welcome our guest blogger, Nadya Lev. Nadya, a photographer, wrote a thoughtful post at the Coilhouse blog in response to ours on Viktoria, an amputee model on this month’s cover of Bizarre magazine (see it here). [...]
Sociological Images » REPRESENTING THE DISABLED — June 11, 2008
[...] notes how the site and the ad challenge the stereotype of disabled people as asexual but, much like Viktoria in Bizarre magazine, does so by conforming to normative standards of attractiveness. But I really liked her [...]
Sociological Images » “WE WANT TO BE ON TOP, TOO!” — June 28, 2008
[...] have many of the same questions about this program that I have about Viktoria’s spread for Bizarre Magazine and Elizabeth had about Disaboom advertising. Notice that, of the eight contestants, at least [...]
Sociological Images » NUDE CALENDAR IMAGES OF GERMAN PARALYMPIC ATHLETES — September 23, 2008
[...] these portrayals of persons with disabilities to the portrayal of fetish model Viktoria, who was a Bizarre mag cover girl, apparently in part because she has a below-the-knee amputation. [...]
michelle — April 28, 2009
i think viktoria is beautiful !!!!!
i want to be like her :)
VIKTORIA — May 11, 2009
Almost everyone here, in my opinion seems to be missing the point that.. Me, you, even those people that dont agree with who i am.. ARE ALL ORDIONARY people with different choices in life!
The mistery of my article is.. the was no mistery to start with. What you see and read is what you get.
V.M
Rose — July 30, 2009
@MW
"If you read the interview the accompanies the spread, she says that she had her leg amputated because it was deformed and weak. From what I can tell, there was no medical necessity [e.g., necrosis, cancer, parasites, etc.]. So that adds a whole new level of self-fashioning and reforming of one’s body to the mix."
Uh, have you considered that she might quite like to be able to walk? And that a deformed and weak leg might hinder that?
bdclark0423 — August 6, 2009
Dear Permanently Ticked Off at the World aka Interrobang,
Did you even take time to read the short little blurb? There’s not really a mention as to which way we are to really view Viktoria except by what is in the article and by the photos. This is again repeated in a post by Viktoria (not sure if it’s the real VM, but it would be cool if it were).
I’m afraid it is you that are disempowering yourself by beginning to put standardized labels on everything, including the way you describe yourself (a disabled radical feminist, cater to the heterosexual male gaze, fetish object…disabled women are allowed to have). By painting yourself into a box, these self-images are less positive than the original message which (is no mystery): [we] ARE ALL ORDIONARY people with different choices in life!
Dear Viktoria,
you are a role model for me….you go, girl!
Lady Gaga’s Disability Project » Sociological Images — January 22, 2010
[...] more on disability and representation, see our posts on the model, Victoria, what does a sexy disabled man look like?, Britain’s disabled model competition, dolls with [...]
Saktii — January 22, 2010
Viktoria Modesta is beautiful and her beauty is to be admired. One leg or No legs, she's still more stunning than I could ever hope to be..
deebee — February 6, 2010
Opinion masquerading as fact. Is this supposed to be thoughtful, insightful and logical, or just schoolyard pseudo-psychology? It smacks of the latter. Particularly when the author lets slip their own prejudices against "weirdos", whatever they are in that person's putrid and rather limited imagination.
Perhaps there are definitions outside the narrow-minded kneejerking mainstream for those who care to enquire. Perhaps some people like to define and refine their existence to the point that the homogenous blobs feel compelled to disparage them by any means necessary.
That looks suspiciously like the motivation behind the barely disguised spite on offer from the author.
A shallow hypocrite with zero life experience passing judgement on people they've taken a disliking to, perhaps because they themselves are a model of bland conformity.
I've worked with Viktoria a few times, and never found her less than totally professional. Unlike the author of this self regarding piece of drivel.
How about writing a piece, with a slightly more logical structure and tone, that examines your own innate prejudices? And how you came by them.
Reivynn — February 6, 2010
You people need to get a life. If she's doing something she enjoys, its HER life and HER right. Mind your own damn business and grow up. Its not her job to be your role model. And anyone who considers themselves "RADICAL" should understand that in normal peoples eyes, RADICAL = WHACK JOB.
GET A LIFE or at very least, get a hobby. Stop making it others peoples jobs to fulfill your own agenda.
nathan small — February 7, 2010
I know and have worked with Viktoria and in my opinion she's a contemporary icon on the cusp of being fully discovered. Everybody that has left negative idiotic speculative comments as to her motives and creed would do well to remember that she is just a young woman carving out a place for herself in an industry that has become increasingly homogenous. The fact that she is an amputee bears little relevance, as it is always others that seek to highlight this fact, and never Viktoria.
In short, she's talented and going places so if I were you I'd back a winner and stop pushing your own weird insecurities on someone who's overcome theirs.