{Click on Any Image to View It Full Size in a New Window}

When we left Part 1 of our tribute to Skyscraper Day, we were at New York’s legendary Empire State Building, the most famous such structure in world history. So let’s begin back there … with what England’s Daily Star called, “A shocking snap featuring a woman in black lingerie in front of the iconic Empire State Building (top left). These death-defying photos are part of 2016 series called Beauty and NYC, which shows women in various states of undress against the dramatic city skyline. One particularly fear-inducing snap sees a blonde woman lying at the corner of a sky-high rooftop completely naked! (top right).

The photographer Mar Shirasuna explains: “My goal for this project was to reinvent the selfie, recreate it and make it more beautiful and more creative. So I started taking pictures of beautiful women {female fans who volunteered to strip and suspend themselves} on the rooftops. I like to pick buildings in locations where I know the view is going to be amazing!”

None is more amazing than the Empire State Building—which is why it’s become the symbol of this annual Skyscraper celebration (below left). Why even movie star Fay Wray got ‘excited’ while watching smitten King Kong climb the phallic fortress (below right) in the 1933 classic, just two years after the building opened.

Kong was killed there … but photographer Allen Henson was only escorted from the premises—and sued by the owners—when he shot a cell phone image of model Shelby Carter topless on the ESB’s Observation Deck {as detailed, and denuded, in Part 1}. While his case was being heard, Henson “was not to be silenced,” wrote reporter Natasha Norman on July 23, 2015. “He is countersuing for $5 million and focusing much of his art on fighting censorship, including a topless photoshoot at the New York Supreme Court” {venue of the verdict, below}.

“Henson led five nearly naked women to the iconic steps of 60 Centre Street,” wrote the New York Daily News. “Posing topless on that spot, they drew a crowd of mostly male onlookers eagerly snapping their own mementos [make that mamentos] with cellphones. ‘Daaamnn!’ one male fan gushed.”

“I haven’t been arrested,” Henson told reporters. “They did however attempt to get me to delete the images” as he escorted the quintet up the courthouse steps in broad daylight.

“Look at how big sites like Instagram and Facebook are affecting how we think and what’s taboo,” the camera buff argued—in reference to their bans on bare breasts only for women {provoking a battle with one of our Top Ten stars on the ‘Sky,’ Chelsea Handler}. “Performance art in the ’70s involved literally reading ticker tape poetry unraveled from a vagina. Feminism was alive and well then, but now women’s bodies are so heavily censored.” Not here …

And speaking of performance art, personal trainer and actress Rachele Brooke Smith took to the skies 25 stories up to show off her yoga moves—and fab abs (down to the pelvis, below right) on a ledge over Manhattan.

Naturally it started a social media backlash {what doesn’t?}, with one critic complaining: “I am so tired of seeing all these yoga fanatics trying to do poses off of cliffs and other unsafe backdrops just to ‘Instagram’ it.” After predictably posting a video of her one-foot feat (below left), Rachele replied: “I did feel safe on that ledge, otherwise I would never have done it. I practice every day and feel extremely confident in my moves. It was definitely a little scary being so high, but I never felt in danger.” Can’t say the same for any fella who falls into bed with the Sunny Leone lookalike (below right)!

But performance art took on a whole new dimension when classically trained English artist Poppy Jackson climbed atop the historic Toynbee Studios in the heart of London city centre on October 30, 2015 … and proceeded to straddle its roof gable—stark naked—for 8 hours over 2 days!

“Right now at #toynbeehall,’ tweeted advertising manager Raquel Rodrigues as she watched from her nearby office. “What’s happening? #nakedwomanonroof.”

While it wasn’t the first time that an aspiring artist had straddled a Gable [clark my words!], Ms. Jackson admitted later that she was “astounded by the global reach of the work.” It even drew raves from some hardened reviewers: “It was unassumingly beautiful and quietly moving to behold,” wrote the London Observer. “Jackson seems to become as one with the building, part of its very architecture, as if her body is an extension of the brickwork” {its tip very nearly extended into her vagina!, below}.

“I think it has ‘confused’ people,” pretty Poppy proclaimed, “because I am celebrating my body in a way that is not sexually objectifying” {speak for yourself}.

“I think the reason that it has had such an impact in the media is because this platform usually presents female bodies in a way that objectifies them or commodifies female sexuality. I use nudity to work against this viewpoint, in a dignified and respectful way that celebrates the power the body holds.” Particularly with such well-built flying butt•resses!

An uncensored video of Poppy’s “feat of fearless endurance” can be seen here:

https://vimeo.com/144248834

Jackson further explained that she makes “actionist work exploring the female body as an autonomous zone,” while the Observer noted: “This is far from the first fully nude artwork that she’s done.” But only one—her 2014 performance piece titled WIN in NYC’s Grace Exhibition Space--involved actual penetration!”

“As I entered, I was forced to move through a narrow passage,” a moved fellow artist wrote to her after seeing the show. “The layout of the room channeled me towards you—naked, cornered, inverted. Legs splayed wide apart, a tatty homemade sign was inserted into your vagina (it read WIN),” below right.

“Your position and my height facilitated an awkward, topical view of your vulva (above left), penetrated lips separated by the shaft of your sign. I will hold onto this Poppy, and thank you.”

Let’s leave you with something to hold onto - Sleuth’s Ten Sexiest Stars Atop Skyscrapers:

BRINKE STEVENS

Sleuth’s good friend—and the inspiration for this post with her ‘High Nudes’ series she signed for him—the Scream Queen confides: “The scariest modeling session I ever did was on the 34th floor of an old skyscraper in Times Square, where I posed nude on the 9-inch-wide ledge—at rush hour!

It was a very cold December day, and I was shivering so hard I thought I’d fall off. The most amazing thing is that nobody seemed to notice me up there. I think I really earned my ‘on the Brinke’ status that time!”

CHELSEA HANDLER

PATTI HANSEN

The early ’80s supermodel was the first celeb to pose on a skyscraper—for this classic called ‘Over Manhattan’ in 1977. Six years later she married Rolling Stones ‘fossil’ Keith Richards … retired from the business … and amazingly they’re still rockin’ and rollin’ 33 years later!

CHRISSY TEIGEN

MELISSA BENOIST

TV’s sexy Supergirl promoted the series premiere by visiting the Observation Deck of Gotham’s Empire State Building to show off her super powers … both fore (above) and aft!

SELMA BLAIR

TAMARA ECCLESTONE

The daughter of Bernie, billionaire boss of Formula One racing, sent hearts racing when she bent low on a high balcony and bared her jet set

ELSA HOSK

The Swedish supermodel and Victoria’s Secret Angel announces: “I love being naked. I think there is something so freeing about it, you’re throwing all your clothes off and you’re just you. It’s just a great feeling. Nothing bugging you.” Especially when you’re above it all—scores of stories up!

SHARON STONE

Seated in a chair … or up there … guess it’s just her Basic Instinct to uncross those legs

KIM KARDASHIAN

Pausing to show her clean-shaven cooch before ascending to the heights … Kim’s V•antage point provides an open END to our two-part Skyscraper Day celebration!

So let’s revert back to where it all began …