Let me tell you something that probably shouldn’t be controversial: not every sexy photo is a thirst trap. And not every person who posts one is fishing for attention. Sometimes, someone just feels sexy, confident, powerful, alive, and they want to express that. No shame. No apology. No hidden agenda.

By That Arnold, for HEATWAVE.

Feeling Sexy vs. Selling Fantasy

I remember a photoshoot with Cheyenne, a model I’ve worked with multiple times. She told me, almost casually, “I just feel more myself when I’m not wearing any clothes.” For her, being naked and posing sexy isn’t about being sexualized. It is about feeling free, feeling like herself.

In today’s world, especially on social media, we’ve been trained to see sexiness as a performance. If someone posts a photo showing skin, they must be trying to get likes, comments, validation. The term “thirst trap” has become the go-to label for any post that dares to be sexy, as if feeling good in your own body is some kind of manipulative ploy.

Let’s be real: sometimes it is a thirst trap. And you know what? That’s fine. Wanting attention isn’t a crime. We all want to be seen. But there’s a difference between posting something because you’re desperate for likes, and posting it because you just feel good, because you want to celebrate yourself, your energy, your vibe.

Business or Self-Expression?

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Some posts are clearly designed to turn others on, the Reels videos where someone goes down on their knees, flips their hair back like they’re about to give you a blowjob, and stares into the camera like you owe them money. Or the ones where her skirt 'accidentally' slipped up while reaching for cereals on the top shelf in the supermarket. That’s not about self-expression. That’s business. They’re not shy about it either. These are thirst traps with a purpose: to get men horny enough to subscribe to their OnlyFans. And look, nothing wrong with that. Money is money. Hustle is hustle. But let’s not pretend that kind of content is about feeling free in your own body. It’s a strategy, an effective one. But HEATWAVE isn’t about that. We’re not selling fantasy. We’re showing reality.

"They’re not there to beg for attention. They’re there to express something. To step into a mood, a feeling, a version of themselves."

That’s what I see in a lot of the models I shoot with. They’re not there to beg for attention. They’re there to express something. To step into a mood, a feeling, a version of themselves that maybe they don’t get to show in everyday life. Sometimes that version is sultry. Sometimes playful. Sometimes powerful. Always unapologetic.

Courage, Cameras, and the Freedom to Feel Sexy

And the truth is, the line between “thirst trap” and “self-expression” isn’t always clear, nor should it be. It’s okay to want to feel desired. It’s okay to enjoy being seen. But when we slap the label "thirst trap" on every sexy photo, we’re reducing it to a one-dimensional motive: attention-seeking. And that erases the complexity of why someone might choose to show their body, their confidence, their vibe.

I actually tried nude modeling myself recently, when I was in Ibiza. Just me, a camera, and a beach. And I loved taking those photos. I felt so free. But when it came time to post them? I hesitated. I felt like people might judge me. It takes real courage, not just to pose like that, but to share it with the world. And I realized, feeling sexy, and expressing it, is a process. It takes guts. It takes honesty.

*Me, nude in front of a camera on Ibiza.*

"Feeling sexy, and expressing it, is a process. It takes guts. It takes honesty."

The HEATWAVE way

At HEATWAVE, that’s the energy we live for. We celebrate the moments when someone steps in front of the camera not to trap thirst, but to honor their own power. To have fun with it. To let go of fear.

So yeah, some photos might be thirst traps. But not all of them. Some are declarations. Some are confessions. Some are just... joy.

And in a world that still tries to flatten everything into likes, clicks, and subscriptions, sometimes the sexiest thing you can do is be unapologetically yourself.

If this made you feel something…
Feel free to support us. This kind of work takes time and care.
The webshop is open, and so is the comment section on Instagram.