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In between coordinating the maternity outfits, the different various images of adoringly cradling the pregnant belly and even in the midst of the intimate or highly produced baby showers – the grand maternity shoot is one of the celebrated moments on modern-day motherhood.
Of course, because celebrities are celebrities, their level of grandeur when it comes to these precious moments of celebration is multiplied.
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If the announcement is not on glossy magazine covers, some celebrities dedicate their creative direction to social media or their websites, often managing to look editorial in expertly photographed series.
Here we have picked maternity photoshoots from recent years that were not only stylish but memorable. These are four celebrity women who, before becoming mothers – some twice over – preceded and followed up motherhood in style:
Serena Williams
Photographed by Annie Leibovitz on Vanity Fair’s August issue, Serena Williams graced the cover in a breath-taking image featuring her growing baby bump. In nothing but her gold disc body chain around her waist, nude coloured bottoms and hair blowing in the wind, Serena produced an image that not only made for an outstanding magazine cover, but a maternity image that sets her apart from the rest.
Linda Mtoba
No stranger to visual spectacle and flamboyant style, Linda Mtoba seized the moment of executing a dreamy maternity shoot, accompanied by a short film. It started out as a demure and elegantly composed image by Myllo Menorah to announce her pregnancy in 2019 - but the photoshoots did not end there (fortunately for us).
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Save for her magazine cover about her pregnancy, this was soon followed by a serene short film by the ocean with her husband, featuring a voluminous ombré ruffle gown.
Beyoncé
A moment that basically broke the internet in 2017 was Beyoncé’s announcement that she was expecting twins. The image has since been inspiration for multiple costume recreations.
Following on was an even popular moment was Beyoncé carrying her two new-borns in a similarly themes floral shoot.
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Cardi B
While the image of a pregnant Cardi B grinding on stage in an all-white outfit at the 2018 Coachella music festival will forever be a revolutionary moment, her maternity photoshoot was equally indicative of the rapper's persona. Surrounded by seemingly endless bouquets of flowers, Cardi B did her maternity shot in nothing but a full glam makeup look, a pair of statement earrings and big hair – photographed by Jora Frantzis.
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