Woman shares photo of her face and breasts covered in period blood on Instagram

'This is not empowering, it’s disgusting and worrying'

(Instagram: @maxinnebjork

A woman has divided opinion online after sharing a photo of her face and breasts covered in period blood.

Maxinne Björk, a Swedish blogger who currently lives in Bali, is well-known for her controversial posts on Instagram.

A self-confessed “naturist” and “yogi”, most of the images on her account feature nudity and she regularly addresses topics such as masturbation, feminism and the power of the universe.

However, one of her most recent posts has caused a furore amongst her 43,000 followers.

Last week, Björk chose to celebrate her womanhood with a photo of her face and breasts covered in period blood.

She wrote: “Today, after a very productive and super fun day, I just came home all emotional with lots on my mind that I just pushed aside ’cause I didn’t have space to deal with it in the moment.

“I sat down and did some deep breathing, and all of a sudden felt a strong urge to cover myself in my life-giving fluids as a woman. So, without really thinking of why or anything else, I just did.”

She continued: “Smudged it out all over my body and then rolled around naked on the grass in my garden all covered in my menstrual blood.

“Smelled the earth and started crying intensely. Both from happiness and sadness. After some crying I started laughing instead.”

The comments on the post showed a divide in opinion, with some labelling the image as “disturbing”, while others recognised it as “empowering.”

A number of users showed concern for the blogger’s mental health, saying: “Everything described sounds a lot like a psychotic episode.”

Another person added: “Covering yourself in your fluids, rolling around in grass, crying and then laughing like a maniac is not empowering or inspirational, it’s disgusting and worrying.”

Others, however, were quick to leap to Björk’s defence, adding: “Let her live how she wants. You have no right to try and discourage her, plus does it really affect you? No, so it really is none of your business.”

Someone else wrote: “What an empowering woman.”

The Swedish blogger addressed the controversial photo the next day with another post where she asked people to “listen to their hearts and do what feels rights for them.”

“So interesting how people can't accept that we all are different and have different views about life,” she continued.

“I want to spread how I live, so people can be inspired to dare to live how they want to live. I'm not trying to change anyone, be you!

“And bad comments that I'm mentally sick doesn't really affect me. Maybe I am? But oh my, how great it feels to be mentally disturbed then I love my life!”