When you work in media, there is very little that shocks you.

And so on Wednesday, when Kim Kardashian released a line of underwear crowned with faux pubic hair via her brand Skims, I was hardly surprised.

I was, however, annoyed.

Kim Kardashian has made millions through her shapewear and clothing brand Skims.Credit: Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Don’t get me wrong. I am pro-bush (the nether-region kind, not the former US president). I think we should all let our freaky, hairy flags fly.

But Kim Kardashian has no interest in freeing us from the painful, expensive prison that is the billion-dollar hair removal industry. Feminists have long viewed body hair – and its removal – as a product of the patriarchy. The choice to keep it, then, is a political choice.

Credit: Instagram/@kimkardashian

We also know that pubic hair plays an important role in our health, acting as a protective barrier against friction caused by walking or sex, regulating body temperature, and potentially warding against STIs.

Some may celebrate the release of Kardashian’s “fluffy undies” as a proud feminist statement.

But a feminist, or sexual health advocate, Kardashian is not.

Remember, this is a woman who has built a career – nay, an empire – on women’s insecurities. Her net worth is estimated to be $US1.7 billion by Forbes.

The slogan for her underwear brand Skims, “solutions for every body”,........

© Brisbane Times