Known for her iconic parts in Love Story and Goodbye, Columbus, the legendary actress Ali MacGraw has once again become the focus of viral attention. A number of the star’s previous bikini pictures have recently made a comeback online, along with dramatic headlines that say they were “too bold.” But taken as a whole, the pictures really convey the innate self-assurance and classic beauty that made MacGraw one of Hollywood’s most adored characters.

Ali MacGraw rewrote the definition of feminine power in the 1970s. At a period when Hollywood women were starting to change their image, she was a symbol of grace and freedom. Her beach pictures showed a free spirit who preferred genuineness over glitz and weren’t meant to provoke.

In her nineties, MacGraw still arouses awe for her timeless beauty as well as her sensible, grounded outlook on life. She has frequently spoken inner serenity and self-acceptance, opting to live a modest and genuine life away from the spotlight.

Fans now view those “outrageous” pictures as evidence of a woman who was and is happy in her own flesh, rather than as contentious.

Ali MacGraw continues to be a representation of timeless grace, natural beauty, and classic elegance. Her self-assurance and genuineness serve as a reminder that true boldness is demonstrated by how boldly you live your truth rather than by what you wear.