Models Lisa Haydon, Dayana Erappa, Bruno Amora, Gaurav Arora and Piyush reflect their sensual essence, styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania in this unusually sexy editorial ‘Bronze Age’ for Vogue India. Tarun Vishwa is behind the lens for Vogue India November 2014./ Gabriel Georgious; makeup by Clint Fernandes

Anyone who has been an AOC reader for years knows that I support this editorial view because of my commitment to women’s rights, a positive sensuality and a belief that historically the power of the goddesses prevailed long before the gods and then monotheism. At the same time I’m sensitive to the long list of derogatory accusations thrown against women around the world, given my work for international women and American women, too.

An exceptional young woman — I won’t name her, so as not to drag her into this discussion via search results — is also featured in this issue of Vogue India. M is the recipient of this year’s Nobel Peace prize after surviving being shot in the head on her school bus. Her name is on the Vogue India cover below.

I’ll be posting later in my Sensual Rebel blog — where we’re now pulling together all my writing on feminism, sexuality and women’s rights — the reality that about half the people in M’s home country say she is a pawn of the West and is disgracing both her religion and the identity of her home country. A major anti-M declaration was made yesterday by a prominent association representing half the schools in her country.  I can just see people waving this editorial and her Vogue India story in the streets of her home country as ‘evidence’ that she is a traitor.

Personally, I would have put the story/interview in another issue where positive content like this editorial would not simultaneously jeopardize the fragile issue of educating young women worldwide. On a positive note, Glamour has launched a new drive The Girl Project to educate young women around the world.

Life is complicated and so is the fashion industry — even though my favorite Carine Roitfeld says we shouldn’t take any of it seriously. I disagree, dear Carine. We must always be sensitive to all the issues involved in content that lives side by side on the cover of our magazines, and this view does not involve bowing to political correctness.

Out of the same concern expressed about linking M to this very saucy editorial, at AOC we are moving the most provocative visual content and thumbnails in Sensual Rebel to Body Politics. My essays will not move, because there should not be a conflict between this editorial and M’s interview and safety. I will seize every opportunity to make that point in my writing.  ~ Anne