Controversial nude photo shoot at iconic Gold Coast location ends in chaos

The organiser of a nude photo shoot at a Gold Coast beach has defended her art, saying those involved were embracing ‘control of their bodies’. Find out why it has sparked uproar.

A nude photo shoot in Surfers Paradise ended in chaos after the organiser accused city council staff of filming the event and threatening to issues fines.

But a council spokeswoman said officers only wore body-worn cameras during their patrols for safety reasons.

A group of women stripped off for a nude photo shoot at the beach on Sunday after similar stunts were held at Victoria’s State Library in Melbourne and Perth’s St Georges Terrace in the CBD.

The brainchild of Crooked Images founder Lauren Crooke, the photo shoot aimed to help women “embrace control of their bodies”.

But Ms Crooke said the response from Gold Coast City Council and local police to the shoot left her “disappointed”.

She claimed the council would only give them a permit to have the photo shoot if genitalia of the women participating was “covered at all times”.

The Tour De Nood photoshoot at Surfers Paradise beach. Picture: Crooked Images

“The shoot went ahead at 5am (Sunday) morning at the lifeguard tower and at no point was any genitalia exposed or uncovered,” Ms Crooke said.

“(At the end of the shoot) we were approached by two council officers that confirmed they had filmed the whole event and that we were in breach of our permit and that a review of the footage would determine whether I would be fined.

“We did remove our bikinis, but the girls had pre-applied strapping tape to cover their nipples and genitalia.”

The photographer said the women had “every right” to participate in the photo shoot, adding “we were expressing our rights through photography”.

A council spokeswoman said it was reviewing whether any compliance action would be taken against the event organisers.

“A licence for the photographic event in Surfers Paradise was issued by the city,” she said.

“A condition of the licence was that no display of nudity was permitted at any time and that all participants were to remain fully clothed, in bathing costumes or similar, at all times.

“The organiser of the shoot agreed to these conditions and welcomed the attendance of the city at the photographic event.”

Gold Coast police superintendent Rhys Wildman. Picture Glenn Hampson

Gold Coast police superintendent Rhys Wildman said police had encouraged the organisers to hold the photo shoot in a private location.

“For families, you just can’t have groups of naked adults in a public place. It’s not acceptable behaviour,” he said.

A Tour De Nood photoshoot. Picture: Crooked Images

Revealed: Why women will strip nude in Coast protest

A nude protest will hit an iconic Gold Coast location this weekend in a stand against women losing “their rights to their bodies”.

A group of women will strip off for a mass nude photoshoot on Sunday to “embrace control of their bodies” after similar stunts were held at Victoria’s State Library in Melbourne and Perth’s St Georges Terrace in the CBD

The location of this weekend’s Gold Coast protest will be kept secret from the public until it starts to ensure the safety of participants. However, it is likely to follow previous shoots at a high profile landmark.

The photoshoots are the brainchild of Crooked Images founder Lauren Crooke.

“Every woman has a right to control her own body, yet universally we are seeing women being stripped of their freedom of choice, safety and the right to life,” Ms Crooke said.

“This is beyond body positivity. This is about unlearning and redefining our existence.”

A Tour De Nood photoshoot. Picture: Crooked Images

Women and non-binary folk aged 18 and over are welcome to participate in Tour De Nood.

Ms Crooke and her team are preparing to take their message and photography on a national scale.

Those who would like to be involved should register at: www.tourdenood.com