Jennifer Aniston's "Samantha" Moment

The recent publicity and commentaries over Jennifer Aniston’s nude cover for GQ made me recall a Sex and the City episode, in which Samantha decided to pose nude just so she can look back years from now and remembered how hot she was.

Miranda: Isn't that a little narcissistic?
Samantha: No one thinks it's narcissistic when you get your seventh grade picture taken.
Charlotte: You weren't naked in that.
Carrie: That we know of.

Much has been speculated about Jennifer Aniston’ motives for her skin-baring turn:

1. Showing the Ex (and by extension, the mistress turned partner) what he is missing
2. Showing the world that the “new” Jennifer Aniston is still sexy and youthful, with a hot body even at 39-turning-40 years old.
3. Doing the cover to reflect a confident, independent and empowered woman
4. To promote her upcoming film.

Putting my own two cents out there, I think that Jennifer had her “Samantha” moment. As she approaches a big birthday milestone, turning 40 (yikes!), the inevitability of aging and turning middle age must seem like a scary proposition, especially for someone whose career success was determined by the public’s perception of the wholesome girl-next-door, albeit with a few sexy covers along the way. Well, that ‘girl’ will soon be 40 years old, has had a very public marriage and a tumultuous divorce, as the dumpee wife, and is still striving to be taken as a talented, “serious” actor, rather than to be known as the one with the cute haircut from the Friends ensemble.

The GQ photo shoot was Jennifer Anniston’s attempt to take back her public image and re-write it for the not-too-far future where at 50 years of age, she hopes to be no longer defined by a failed marriage.

As well, how many of us have from time to time looked back at our younger self and said, “I looked good!” That kind of perspective comes from having experienced the ups and downs of a well-lived life.

In Jennifer’s case, in looking back 20 years after the GQ cover, no matter the quality and tenor of life she has led in the interim, she can still marvel that at almost 40, she can still reign supreme in the celebrity cover game.

Related links:

Jennifer Aniston Has No Clothes

Naked Jen's Delicious Revenge on Brangelina!

What is going on with Jennifer Aniston?