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Written by Aaronique Powell

KG Presents BODY: Sexuality meets Creativity

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5pointMAGAZINE sat down for a one on one with

Marcus Aurelius, CEO of KG presents the BODY Magazine

at his midtown studio. BODY, a men’s magazine, celebrates the beauty and sexuality of women. With portrayals of women of all shapes, sizes, and colors, BODY appeals to the varying tastes and preferences of its audience. As CEO, editor, photographer, and graphic designer of BODY, Marcus Aurelius is a true entrepreneur-on a mission to leave an indelible mark on the industry. Marcus has been an artist all his life. Initially a graphic designer, he later branched out into photography. His experience paired with a keen eye for creativity, birthed this publication, setting itself apart from others like it with its quality photography and artistic foundation.

Like many men’s magazines, BODY has received criticism for the ways in which it objectifies the female form, while contributing to the continued subjugation of women as a whole. Like any artist, Marcus eagerly welcomes dialogue regarding the relevance of his work. What initially started as an interview rapidly transformed into an in depth discussion and debate regarding the political implications of his work, and the future of KG presents BODY.

A primary concern was the sexualization of black female bodies [while BODY portrays some white women, the majority of its images are of women of color, and is considered a black publication]. When asked what had to say to those claiming his magazine serves no purpose other than to objectify women, his response was short, and concise: “If you want to know if the women are being objectified, ask the women…I don’t force these women to do anything they don’t want to do…it is unfair to oppress women who are sexual.” In the Western world, sex is taboo. This taboo is intensified when one focuses specifically on Black people, a community that Aurelius describes as the “most conservative people on the planet.” The true form of oppression comes, in his opinion, when one tells women that they are no longer allowed to be sexual; that their sexuality is something to be hidden, rather than celebrated and embraced.

With his magazine, Marcus has set out to create a niche for the black consumer.

“Black sex is taboo because white men are embarrassed to admit that they like black women. What we like doesn’t matter.”

BODY seeks to counteract the stigma of black sexuality and black publications by producing a certain quality of work. By raising the standard, and refusing to seek the approval of anyone outside of his audience, Marcus, emphatically states that he is providing a platform for black women; a place where their bodies and sexuality can be embraced and appreciated by their own people. “White men have magazines with their women in it, why can’t we have magazines with ours?” In an industry where black women have been discriminated against for years, they are finally being given a chance In an industry where Photoshop runs rampant, Marcus tries to preserve the integrity of his images. “I’m not going to recreate a model,” citing the fact that his target audience, black males ages 18-35, appreciates the occasional flaw in the midst of a fantasy; a reminder that the models are indeed real people.

Catering to the demands of his audience, remaining true to the art form, and producing quality work, seems to be a formula of success that has worked for this entrepreneur. The future for BODY is looking bright. With a new issue set to hit newsstands in the near future, and another publication, Kandi Girlz Magazine, on its way, this will certainly not be the last you hear of Marcus Aurelius.

All Images Courtesy & Copyright Marcus Aurelius for KG Magazine; Log Into