So-called feminist icons of 2014 shedding their clothes are all fakes Role models ... Kim Kardashian and Miley Cyrus. DO you have to get naked to be a strong role model for women? In the whirlpool of never-ending stimulation, with our fingers twitching if we're not tapping or swiping, it's possible the only cut-through message is going to be from someone oiled up and waxed to within an inch of their life. Yes, like others, I almost broke my own internet ­examining Kim Kardashian in her birthday suit. I cannot fault the pared down styling of an image which magnetically lures the eyeballs to skin glazed like a doughnut. As a female celebrity, there's only one place to go once you've gone full frontal and that's to the temple of modern feminism. And, as explained by Kardashian, arguably the most famous and genuinely overexposed woman in the world: "Women need to ­believe in themselves, their abilities and knowledge. When this is paired with strong drive and hard work, it can take you a long way. As a suburban girl born and bred with ambitions of sophistication, danger and charm, I've never pretended to be an expert on feminism although as a concept I thoroughly embrace it in its purest form: a person of either gender advocating equal ­opportunity for women. In real time, our culture is permeated with frequently pornographic values. Incrementally, a bit like the cellulite to which I was blind, I've cooked my own version of feminine strength. It has been a bitsy recipe of ballsy editors telling me I was "as good as any bloke," a mother who told me to get myself before I got anyone else and to never get married before I turned 30 (tick, and tick) plus a series of doors slammed in my face. It's always soul strengthening to kiss a bit of paintwork, I've realised. As a result I'm not a man-hating angry woman. In fact I love males and all their perfect imperfections. I gave birth to one, am married to one and am related to several. Some of them infuriate me and others are the most wonderful friends. True, you do not get to feminism through the pages of a magazine or book. And nudity as a weapon has fascinated generations way back to the black and white days of Marilyn Monroe, who pioneered the skill as she tried to pull the strings in her affair with JFK. Marilyn Munroe. Marilyn Monroe. But the so-called feminist icons of 2014 are fakes worshipped for their perceived authenticity. A sex tape works better for a career than a CV any day, so we are hammered into believing. As Kardashian, the enhanced sex kitten du jour, explains: "I'm never one to preach but I felt really positive and ­really good about myself. I like the photos. I hope other people like them. Plastic surgery does not make you happy, a point not lost on former Neighbours star Melissa Bell who has spent a mortgage deposit of $115,000 on nip-tucks and - speak up if you think this is a good look - new 34E breasts. But how will I ­explain the concept of sexual equality to my daughter? It is certainly not demonstrated by the likes of Afton Elaine Burton, who is known globally for pursuing and snaring her prey. In Burton's case it is the hand in marriage of a highly desirable bachelor, or as he is better known, incarcerated mass murderer Charles Manson, now aged 80. Too often the argument for a level female playing field is hijacked by attention seeking and silicone. I'm ­infuriated by her mother who thinks Manson's love for his bride-to-be is genuine, claiming: "It's a different situation. But my daughter is smart. She plans out what she wants to do. Mass murderer Charles Manson and his 26 year old bride to be, Afton Elaine Burton. Do teen girls flash their breasts on Snapchat because it makes them feel empowered or is it simply a confidence crisis? Miley Cyrus embraces the F word as part of her PR kit but can she really argue it is in any way helpful to her young female fans? A fashion stylist pal, whose job description ­includes seeing nude female celebs on a daily basis, ­argues flesh-friendly Cyrus broadcasts the wrong message: get ahead by pandering to men's stereotypical needs. The suffragettes would be horrified, she adds. Maybe there is hope for young girls forced to confront feminism before they can spell it. And those in the business where the only product you're selling is yourself are not the place to start. @whatlouthinks Originally published as The so-called feminists of 2014 are all fakes