Mali Levi Defends Bold Photoshoot After Turning 46

Israeli model and actress Mali Levi, 46, recently posted daring photos on Instagram showcasing herself in a kitchen wearing only a blazer and tiny shorts, without a bra. While the images garnered praise, they also attracted criticism from some followers who deemed them inappropriate for her age and status as a mother.

Levi responded to the backlash on her Instagram stories, stating that it took her 46 years to feel comfortable in her own skin and realize she doesn't need to hate parts of herself to be considered modest or hide what she loves to be respectable. She noted that the photos seemed to ignite controversy, suggesting an unwritten rulebook exists for women over 40 regarding what they can reveal, how a mother should pose, and what is 'unsuitable' for a married woman.

"It turns out there is still some unwritten rulebook for a woman about what she is allowed to reveal after the age of 40," Levi wrote. She questioned the societal expectations that dictate how women should present themselves, adding, "Be sexy but not too much. Love your body but please, quietly. Be a mother, from that moment on, the cleavage should also enter co-parenting. Grow old with dignity, meaning, in a way that doesn't bother anyone."

Levi asserted that modesty comes from within and that she is still a woman, a wife, and a mother at 46, emphasizing that sexuality doesn't expire with a birth date, marriage isn't a ban from one's body, and motherhood doesn't erase femininity. She concluded by humorously referencing her husband, former footballer Shimon Gershon, and her fitness routine, stating she intends to continue embracing her body and that her followers should "tighten their seatbelts" for more to come, as she didn't do all those squats for a passport photo.