Millions of fans waited for the new release. The starlet was an inspiration to girls and women around the world. She spoke the language of their inner thoughts - she made them believe in themselves, believe in their endless potential, their powerful autonomy.
Vinyl albums were set to be available hours before the online release to the hardcore fans who pre-ordered. The albums could only be picked up at specific stores around the world. The plan was that customers would be handed the albums covered in black sleeves minutes before the release time, 7 AM EST. Then once the clock hit seven, the fans would pull off the black sleeves in unison to reveal the album covers.
When the sleeves came off, the shock set in. At first there were some screams, some yelps, and a few giggles. But then silence took hold of the crowd.
The album cover showed the starlet, normally clad in high-end fashion, stark naked. She sat in a cross-legged position, and every defining detail of her body was on display. She was just as skinny as she appeared clothed, though paler with every bit of makeup carefully removed from her face. Her shoulder length raven hair reflected the color of the carefully groomed line of pubic hair she allowed on her body. The small breasts were no surprise - still they were an inspiration for the initial giggles of a minority of her fans, with a few even squealing "tiny tits!!".
Her face was downcast, like she couldn't meet the viewer's eyes. There was a black collar around her neck, which was undeniably connected to a metal chain. This chain led to the fist of a tall man standing to her right. It was clear where he stood in the hierarchy. A thin line of semen peaked out of the left corner of the starlet's mouth. Her name was Ellie.
Beyond the implications for her career, Ellie's cover art had an influence on the lives of her fans. For many of them, Ellie was a key aspect of their identity. They had listened to her music to get through the most challenging moments of their lives - she had taught them to believe in themselves. Ellie's new direction created small trembles in their self-confidence.
For certain fans, these small trembles had major implications. Eighteen year-old high school senior and star student Katya Ladoga had resisted her boyfriend Mike's requests for nude pictures for six months. But it was April, and soon Katya and Mike would enter a long-distance relationship as they attended different colleges. As she listened to his continuous complaints about her lack of trust, she grew concerned that Mike wouldn't maintain a long-distance relationship if she didn't provide him what he wanted. Thrown off balance by the morning album release, in a weak moment, Katya agreed to let Mike take nude pictures of her.
Mike eagerly led Katya to an empty classroom that he had key access to for club duties and locked the door behind them. He pulled out his phone and ordered Katya to stand in front of the chalkboard and strip. She was flustered by his tone but began to comply. As she unbuttoned her white blouse she realized she was wearing "laundry day" underwear. Her plain beige bra felt like the most embarrassing one she could be wearing, and the continuous clicking noise of Mike's phone camera drilled into her that there would be a permanent record of her wearing such unsophisticated underwear.
It got worse as she unbuttoned her ripped skinny jeans. As she bent over to pull them down, she heard Mike laugh. Katya was wearing blue panties with little Care Bears on them. They were relics from a not long ago time when Katya's mom bought all her underwear. Normally, she never would have worn these in front of Mike, but she hadn't thought he would see them. Yet now he would have documentation that Katya Ladoga, the smartest girl in school, wore little girl underwear.
Bending down emphasized Katya's lack of height. At 5'2'', she was used to being loomed over and overlooked. Yet her intelligence and hard work made her shine in the classroom. Stripping in front of the chalkboard was a reminder that, beneath her intellectual armor, Katya was a weak, vulnerable girl.
Katya reached behind her to unclasp her bra, but Mike told her to stop for a second and stand with her hands at her side. Pausing for a moment, he instructed her to move her long, blonde hair behind her so that it didn't block the view of her breasts. Blushing, she obeyed. The camera click continued unabated, as Mike zoomed in and out to capture every detail. He ordered her to turn around and she complied, embarrassed to remember that the back of the panties featured the word "Wednesday" in block letters above the large, smiling face of a Care Bear. Mike laughed out loud, but kept taking photos.
