British model Erin O’Connor has accused Instagram of applying “double standards” after the platform removed a post featuring nude photographs from her pregnancy.
The images, taken in 2014 by renowned fashion photographer Nick Knight, show O’Connor nude and eight and a half months pregnant. She shared the black-and-white photographs on Instagram to mark Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom.
According to O’Connor, Instagram initially removed the post, informing her that it violated the platform’s policies on nudity.
Post restored and then removed again
After the issue attracted public attention, the post was restored. However, it was later flagged as sensitive content and eventually removed again.
O’Connor said she subsequently received another message from Meta stating that the content “may contain nudity” and therefore breaches the platform’s community standards.
Speaking publicly at the National Gallery in London, she described the decision as an example of “double standards”. She argued that it is difficult to accept that a nude body in advanced pregnancy could be considered offensive while more sexualised images of women circulate widely on social media platforms.
O’Connor also called on Meta to introduce clearer and more context-sensitive rules, as well as faster human review processes when users submit appeals.
Who is Erin O’Connor
Erin O’Connor is one of the most recognisable British fashion models of the past three decades. She rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s, working with leading designers and photographers and appearing on the runways of major fashion houses worldwide.
Beyond modelling, she has also been active in the fashion industry as a mentor, educator and advocate for body diversity and ethical standards in fashion. O’Connor has served on advisory boards for several institutions and has collaborated with organisations focusing on fashion education and sustainability.
Meta rules on nudity
Meta said that it generally removes sexual images in order to limit the circulation of non-consensual or underage content. Its rules include certain exceptions, such as images of breastfeeding, mastectomy scars and specific artistic, medical or educational content.
However, no clear explanation has been given as to why the particular post was removed again.
The incident has revived debate about how Meta’s nudity rules are applied in practice, particularly when images lie at the intersection of motherhood, personal expression and artistic photography.