CULTURE

Who Flexed the Hardest on Instagram During Summer 2017?

by Katherine Cusumano

Labor Day—and the rain storms it brought, saturating the east coast—is the first sign that this summer is waning; fashion month is about to kick off, film festival season is underway in Venice, and celebrities are returning from their beach vacations. As the dust clears, it’s finally time to weigh in: who flexed the hardest during summer 2017? Whose Instagrams were the thirstiest? It might be Bella Hadid, who ventured from Arles, France, to London, England, and Mykonos, Greece, finally ending up in Beijing, China, for a series of Bulgari events. (She made time to shoot several September covers while she was at it.) Or, alternately, it could be Emily Ratajkowski and January Jones, each of whom seemed to spend the summer wherever there was a beach. Chrissy Teigen was a clear winner; she and husband John Legend traveled to Bali, Marrakech, and Lake Como. Even Karlie Kloss was a strong contender, passing her summer galavanting across France and pausing to show a coveted look in Azzedine Alaïa’s latest show. See who had the best summer, and wasn’t shy about showing it on Instagram, here.

1

Behind the scenes of Bella Hadid’s shoot promoting her new Nike Cortez collaboration, which debuted in Paris, France—and brought her to the City of Lights—in June. Photo by @bellahadid.

2

For her role as face of Bulgari, Bella Hadid headed off to Venice, Italy, where she oozed old Hollywood glamour while punting on the canal in June. Photo by @bellahadid.

3

In July, Bella Hadid walked Fendi’s Fall 2017 couture show—and her friend Kendall Jenner was also there to document all their behind-the-scenes antics. Photo by @bellahadid.

4

No summer flex would be complete without something poolside. Photo by @bellahadid.

5

And in between travels on duty as face of Bulgari and Dior makeup, Bella Hadid also reconnected with her equestrian side. Photo by @bellahadid.

6

January Jones began the summer where she ended it: by a pool. Photo by @januaryjones.

7

January Jones wished her dad a happy Father’s Day—by posting a selfie. Photo by @januaryjones.

8

Taylor Swift may have bowed out of the summer flex contest when she canceled her annual Fourth of July party, but January Jones was plenty patriotic. Photo by @januaryjones.

9

January Jones also filmed the upcoming season of her series, The Last Man on Earth, in August. Photo by @januaryjones.

10

And then, in August, January Jones returned poolside, her natural habitat, once more. Photo by @januaryjones.

11

Emily Ratajkowski spent some time post-Cannes Film Festival in Montalcino, Italy, a region known for its wine but, apparently, where the espresso is just as much of a delicacy. Photo by @emrata.

12

Like January Jones, Emily Ratajkowski proved she was a strong contender for thirstiest Instagram presence this summer through sheer volume of bikini photos. Photo by @emrata.

13

Bikinis pair best with rosé, it seems. Photo by @emrata.

14

Emily Ratajkowski also took in the sights—and culinary essentials—of Positano, Italy. Photo by @emrata.

15

And when it came to Labor Day, Emily Ratajkowski was still prepared to take in the last days of sun. Photo by @emrata.

16

Kim Kardashian has slowly gotten back into Instagram, posting infinite images of her summer—spent on set with the likes of Steven Klein and Mert Alas and Marcuss Piggott, or catching up with family—like this one, in which the famously straight-edge star dips into Cindy Crawford’s husband Rande Gerber’s tequila. Photo by @kimkardashian.

17

Ahead of the eclipse, Kim Kardashian posted yet another selfie, this time featuring her kids. Photo by @kimkardashian.

18

June kicked off with a trip to Nice, France, for Karlie Kloss. Photo by @karliekloss.

19

Karlie Kloss followed up a beachfront vacation in Nice with a trip to Shanghai, China—for which she clearly did not pack light. Photo by @karliekloss.

20

In between duties modeling for Adidas x Stella McCartney and promoting Kode with Klossy, Karlie Kloss also made time for dim sum at the Taiwan-based cult dumpling shop Din Tai Fung. Photo by @karliekloss.

21

For Karlie Kloss, no geotag is necessary when you’re on the high seas. Photo by @karliekloss.

22

A jet ski is the only way to travel when you’re trying to win at summer. Photo by @karliekloss.

23

Cara Delevingne returned home to the U.K. for the Glastonbury Festival—and she didn’t take long to begin posting straight from the festival. Photo by @caradelevingne.

24

Any selfie alongside Rihanna is an immediate flex. Photo by @caradelevingne.

25

And if music festivals and film premieres alongside Rihanna weren’t enough, Cara Delevingne threw a massive birthday getaway complete with its own hashtag: #Sexico. Photo by @caradelevingne.

26

@chrissyteigen

Chrissy Teigen with Luna Simone in Laguna Beach, California, June 2017.

27

@chrissyteigen

Chrissy Teigen’s whole family traveled to the Indonesian island of Bali, trying out some traditional looks along the way, July 2017.

28

@chrissyteigen

Next stop, Venice, Italy, where Chrissy Teigen has been Instagramming her (it bears saying, impossibly chic) adventures with her daughter, August 2017.

29

Chrissy Teigen left Luna Simone at home for a date night to the opera while in Venice, Italy. Photo by @chrissyteigen.

30

As what might be their last summer jaunt, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend charted a course for Corsica. Photo by @chrissyteigen

31

Madonna took in the sights while scouting a new home in Lisbon, Portugal, where she’s relocating so her son can pursue a career in soccer. Photo by @madonna.

32

Madonna also proved she is quite the soccer fan herself. Photo by @madonna.

33

Madonna stopped by the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation gala in Saint-Tropez—and, naturally, posed with the man himself. (Word is still out on whether she flew private; Leo flew commercial.) Photo by @madonna.

34

Madonna rode in to her birthday party in Puglia on horseback. Photo by @madonna.

35

And while in Italy, Madonna embraced her roots—”I’m Italian!” she wrote, accompanied by several Italian flag emojis. “We talk with our hands!” Photo by @madonna.