Rachel McAdams is pretty low key, as far as celebrities go. She doesn't do social media, something that takes wisdom and self-control in the age of oversharing. If you weren't paying close attention, you might not even know that the 40-year-old actress gave birth to her first child (a son whose name has yet to be revealed) this past spring.
It's Rachel's first bold, public move as a new mother that has everyone talking — namely, that she posed for a photo during a shoot in the midst of breast pumping.
In the picture, Rachel is wearing Versace, dripping in Bulgari diamonds, and wearing a breast pump. The thing is that, like many working mothers, Rachel wasn't trying to make a statement. She was just going through the motions of her day when it was time to pump. The resulting image is breathtaking, a juxtaposition of the glamour of Hollywood and the universality of motherhood. While not every mother can or will decide to breastfeed, the image has taken the internet by storm as a middle finger to the idea that women can't parent and professionally thrive at the same time.
Despite being one of the more reserved personalities in Hollywood, Rachel McAdams has certainly cemented her place in film history.
Who can forget her performance as our favorite mean girl, Regina George?
That same year, she emotionally wrecked us all as Allie in The Notebook.
Recently, Rachel posed for Girls Girls Girls magazine, where she talked about her career today and being a new mother.
While Rachel looks completely stunning in all of the magazine's shots, one shot is getting all the attention.
Girls Girls Girls founder Claire Rothstein posted the iconic image of Rachel, wearing a Versace jacket and Bulgari diamonds with a breast pump strapped to her chest. She's looking directly into the camera with a fierce gaze.
The shot wasn't meant to garner all the attention it has. According to Claire, it was simply Rachel doing what she needed to do as a working mother.
The shoot took place six months after Rachel gave birth to her son.
The hands-free pump Rachel used in the photo is held in place by the Brauxilary Band in black, retailing at $28.99, according to Who What Wear.
Unfortunately, breastfeeding and pumping still has a stigma attached, as though doing either in public is unnatural or shameful. Rachel certainly blasted right through all those outdated ideas with this picture, even if it wasn't her intention.
Plenty of women praised Rachel, even joking that they were ready for high-end designers to start designing breast pumps.
Women shared their experiences breastfeeding and pumping in public. It's truly stunning how many have had negative experiences.
Of course, an image this fierce evoked memories of Regina George, whom we all imagine would be wearing Versace breast pumps by now, honestly.
Some commenters pointed out that breastfeeding isn't something all mothers are capable of or wish to do.
The point here, however, is that we need to learn to become comfortable with all the different ways that having and raising a child can look, from breastfeeding working mothers to same-sex couples and beyond.
Keep on being your fierce mama self, Rachel!
