Model and activist Emily Ratajkowski, known to her legions of fans as “EmRata,” is writing her first book.
Henry Holt imprint Metropolitan Books will publish Ratajkowski’s essay collection, My Body in 2022, the publisher said in a news release.
“In her first book, Ratajkowski will expand her deeply personal examination of what it means to be a woman and a commodity, touching on themes of feminism, sexuality, men’s treatment of women and women’s rationalizations for accepting that treatment,” the publisher said.
The collection will include “Buying Myself Back,” a widely discussed essay that Ratajkowski published in New York magazine last month. In it, Ratajkowski considers whether a model owns her own image.
“I’ve become more familiar with seeing myself through the paparazzi’s lenses than I am with looking at myself in the mirror,” she writes. “And I have learned that my image, my reflection, is not my own.”
Ratajkowski began her modeling career at the age of 14 and made her breakthrough in 2013 with her appearance in Robin Thicke’s controversial music video Blurred Lines. In recent years, she’s turned to activism, supporting Planned Parenthood, Black Lives Matter, and the presidential campaigns of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
“Emily Ratajkowski reveals herself to be devastatingly honest, nuanced, and strong—I’m not surprised that she thinks of herself first as a writer,” said Metropolitan publisher Sara Bershtel. “I also admire how outspoken she is, how political, and how unafraid—what a force she’ll be!”
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
