Emily Ratajkowski turns heads in bikini-filled July photo dump
Emily Ratajkowski Shares Summer Snapshots, Reflects on Single Motherhood in Candid Essay
NEW YORK — Model and entrepreneur Emily Ratajkowski offered fans a glimpse into her summer travels this week, sharing a series of photos on Instagram that showcased coastal getaways, beachside relaxation and an oceanfront dinner.
The 35-year-old captioned the carousel post with the month written in three languages—"julio/Ιούλιος/july"—as she documented her warm-weather adventures. Among the snapshots was a selfie taken inside a coastal home featuring Ratajkowski in a navy blue polka-dot bikini, her long brunette hair falling over her shoulders as she smiled for the camera with blue cabinetry and glassware visible in the background.
Additional photos captured the model lounging on a yellow-and-white striped towel beneath a black-and-white umbrella, accessorized with layered necklaces and gold bangles while holding a pink beverage. Another image showed her seated on a beach chair with rows of loungers and ocean views behind her.
The series also included a more intimate moment from an evening dinner, where Ratajkowski posed in a dark brown halter top at a white-clothed table overlooking the water. She reached across to hold the bandaged hand of an unidentified companion, though she did not explain the injury or identify the person.
The summer photo album arrives weeks after Ratajkowski published a revealing essay in The Cut reflecting on her divorce from film producer Sebastian Bear-McClard and the journey that followed.
"And then, in a time period that felt both instant and excruciatingly slow, my marriage collapsed," she wrote in the June essay titled "Mother F-er."
The former couple married in 2018 and welcomed their son, Sylvester "Sly" Apollo, in March 2021. Ratajkowski filed for divorce in September 2022 and has since spoken openly about raising her 5-year-old primarily as a single mother in New York City.
In the essay, she acknowledged having feared single motherhood long before having a child.
"Even as a kid, I reasoned that of all the things I could grow up to be, it was crucial to avoid becoming a single mom," she wrote. "The term itself could be lodged as an insult."
Following the separation, Ratajkowski said she established clear boundaries to protect her time with Sylvester.
"I had rules: Never miss bedtime and basically no sleepovers," she wrote. "These were natural and easy to abide by."
She described returning home regardless of how late a date ended to be there when her son woke up.
"There was nowhere I'd rather be than when I woke up with my toddler, so no matter the number of martinis, I'd be fully dressed and out the door to relieve the sitter and be ready for my son's 6 a.m. 'Maamaaaa!'" she recalled.
Ratajkowski said her most significant realization came during a visit to her attorney's office, where the lawyer told her about women who remained in harmful marriages despite preparing to leave.
"You should be proud of yourself. Most women don't leave," he told her.
She said that conversation shifted her perspective on the choice she had made.
"Leaving my marriage wasn't about seeking anyone's attention or approval. It was the opposite," she wrote. "I wasn't left; I left. I knew then that being able to leave, to say 'no,' was the only real superpower I'd gained through divorce. I was brave. Really, actually brave."
The essay drew mixed reactions online, with some critics arguing Ratajkowski was out of touch with the financial and logistical challenges many single mothers face, while others praised her openness about divorce, dating and motherhood.
On the professional front, Ratajkowski continues to expand her fashion career. She was recently announced as one of the faces of Abercrombie & Fitch's fall 2026 denim campaign, joining model Paloma Elsesser and New York Giants players Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers.
Speaking with Elle magazine about the collaboration, Ratajkowski said her approach to fashion has evolved.
"I care less about trends and more about how clothes make me feel," she told the outlet. "I want pieces that fit into my life and make me feel like myself."
The New York-based model also explained why the city remains central to her personal style.
"New York has always been my favorite city to get dressed in because everyone is aware they're being perceived but also have the realities of their days to combat," she said. "There's something incredibly stylish about practicality mixed with individuality."