EXPOSE: SHEDDING LIGHT ON COLLECTIVE BEAUTY

(ETA/2017: Someday I’ll have the time and emotional space to do another (more diverse and inclusive- I have work to do in this area) project like this. Until then, enjoy these amazing photos of these amazing humans. P.S. If you're not represented in the group of people that showed up to the shoot and are up for it: please feel free to fill this comment section with pictures of your glorious selves!!!)

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Tell me something.

When was the last time you opened up your browser and saw a beautiful image of a body shape that looked just like yours?

When was the last time you saw an image of skin markings that looked just like yours?

When was the last time you saw an image of breasts that looked just like yours? An ass that looked just like yours? Scars that looked just like yours? A belly that looked just like yours? 

Unless you're a celebrity look alike and have real-time Photoshop (like, a program that follows and moves with you) I'm going to guess that for the majority of us... it's been a while. It's been a while since we've (or maybe we've never) seen our body positively represented within that overwhelming flood of images that fills our social media feeds, televisions, and magazines.

It's time to change that.

A week ago, an amazing thing happened. 96 (yes, nearly 100) women of all shapes, sizes, shades, and ages, gathered together in a beautiful room in Tucson, Az and undressed their glorious bodies.

Nearly everyone had something to personally gain from the experience; it was the ultimate test of self-trust. They bared all to defy a lifetime of being told that their bodies were less than camera worthy. And defy they did. Every time the shutter clicked, triumph was theirs. God, it was moving.

But they also bared all for you. They undressed because they wanted to share their curves and angles, smiles and frowns, firmness and softness, strength and fear... with you. With the world. With everyone who wonders if they are alone in their physical form.

We all know that what we see in the media isn't the whole story. It's not representative of all of us. And because of what we see (or rather DON'T see) we start to believe that we are the only one with our particular stretch marks. Our uneven boobs. Our scarred legs. Our asymmetrical nipples. Our belly shape. Our body hair. Our what-ever-it-is-that-you-don't-see-on-display-any-where-else... Rarely do we see our beautiful and complex combination of body parts that makes us magnificent.

And when we feel alone in our body, we feel as though we are not enough. When the truth is: you are MORE than enough. And you are not alone.

So many of the bodies that we see are pushed up. Pinned down. Sucked in, tucked in, and airbrushed. It's only presentable state is when it's altered, and so when we look at ourselves in the mirror (naked, untucked, and vulnerable) we say "My body must be wrong."

Your body isn't wrong, my friend.

The Expose Project was hosted to offer a medicinal photography opportunity (steps towards healing through terrifying naked poses while a hundred women clap and cheer!) and also to offer YOU more images that perhaps reflect what you might see in the mirror.

98 bodies, untouched. Real, and raw, and more gorgeous than I can put into words. I'm so in love with them ALL.

I was in awe when I saw the final images...each and every body is so magical to me. I've flipped through these images time and time again, every click deserving it's own breath. I see it. I see the beauty. I see the vulnerability. I see the power.

And with these images also come respect. ALL of these women are powerhouses. Some were strong and silent powerhouses. Some were cheeky, laughing powerhouses. Some were fierce and ferocious powerhouses. And some were sobbing, shaking powerhouses... but they all did what SO many are afraid to do: they were able to expose themselves in a light that highlights their beautiful vulnerability. It's never easy, and every feeling imaginable arose. But they did it, and because of these images, they are changing the world. Theirs, certainly mine and maybe even yours.

Will every person reading this post see their body and shape represented here? Definitely not, and I regret this. I genuinely wish that we couldn't have represented the amazing diversity found in 7 billion people... but that didn't happen. But we can show that our bodies differ in every way conceivable and are somehow wonderfully similar... That we're not alone, and that we are all fucking perfect, just as we are.

You can view more images here, if you'd like. I'd recommend it.

I want do this again. And again. And again, until we all feel represented. Until our powerful beauty becomes a blur. Until everything we hide is exposed, including our inherent worth no matter what shape our bodies take.

(Let's have the comment section be the start of this. Want to share your inherently phenomenal body as well? Leave a photograph below so I can send you some love too!)