Katy Perry's Postpartum Selfie Has Everyone Talking
Leave it to new mom and international superstar Katy Perry to be awesomely honest about the reality of life postpartum. The singer just welcomed a baby girl named Daisy Dove this past week with her fiancé, actor Orlando Bloom. "We are floating with love and wonder from the safe and healthy arrival of our daughter," the couple shared on UNICEF's Instagram page upon little Daisy's birth.
The singer first announced she was expecting at the end of her music video for "Never Worn White" (via CNN). And now, Perry's baby girl is here — the star also released her album, Smile, the same week she and Bloom met their daughter! And then, just days later, the star oh-so bravely bared her body — still very swollen tummy and all — in nothing but a pair of mesh maternity underwear and a nursing bra (via People).
Katy Perry always keeps it real
In addition to her courage in sharing a selfie, in her bathroom no less, and mere days after giving birth to her first child, we love the Smile singer's sense of humor even more. Because Perry showed off her look as though she were on the VMAs red carpet, complete with hair and makeup by "exhaustion." Her facial expression backed up the reality of the first few days (heck, weeks and months!) with a newborn. Katy, you look beautiful, but girl, you also look so, so tired! And hey, that's 100 percent normal.
Of course, it's no surprise that this is one star who isn't trying sugarcoat pregnancy and motherhood. In 2011, while married to Russell Brand, Perry said this about how many kids she wanted to have: "If it doesn't hurt the first time, I'll keep popping them out" (via Us Weekly). When she finally revealed her pregnancy, and admitted the secret was hard to keep, she also tweeted, "Omg so glad I don't have to suck it in anymore. Or carry around a big purse lol."
Later, Perry shared a makeup-free selfie in quarantine while also showing off her growing bump. At that time, the American Idol judge was characteristically candid about what it was like to be pregnant during a pandemic. "And not like everyone does a babymoon or a baby shower, but I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to do any of that," she bemoaned.
Other celebrities helped normalize the postpartum experience
Meanwhile, Katy Perry is not the first star to show off her postpartum body so soon after giving birth. Chrissy Teigen famously shared a postpartum selfie after her second child's birth in 2018 (via Allure). In the viral Instagram shot, the similarly-candid star posed in her hospital-issued mesh underwear, while breastfeeding newborn baby Miles. Commenters were pretty united in their praise for the star mom for revealing what real motherhood consists of right after you have a baby. "There you go — postpartum reality," one fan said. "Postpartum undies are life!!! Love that you captured this gorgeous photo of what motherhood is like," another chimed in.
Even Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle were largely applauded for going out in public and refusing to hide their baby bumps soon after giving birth. Although, we're pretty sure seeing the royals posing in mesh postpartum panties is out of the question! No matter — anyone who lives a life in the public eye and who can shed light on what a woman really looks like after she gives birth helps normalize the experience.
What new motherhood is really like
As for Katy Perry, it's the candid spirit of the singer that makes us positively giddy to see what else she'll share about her motherhood journey. First we get a glimpse of the sheer normalcy of what it is like for Perry to be a brand new mom. First, she shared that baby bump — and as What to Expect notes, it is completely normal for that not to go down for weeks or longer after your baby is born. After all, it did take nine months to grow that precious baby space, so it is hardly going to disappear overnight. Heavy bleeding is also normal, and that is why those oh-so-attractive mesh undies come in handy. You may also be sore, tired (make that exhausted), and experience sore, even bleeding nipples if you are breastfeeding. Nope, this part of your life is not glamorous but it is real, and so we want to say thanks to Katy Perry for keeping it real now and always.
In fact, we are guessing real breastfeeding stories and tales of being up all night are not far behind this latest postpartum pic. We're in, Katy! Never change.