Photography project based on a short story as well as the Mowa Lola SS2023, particularly look 14.

The short story:

In a messy, chaotic, room where we can see her expensive perfume and pearls surrounded by magaziines. She begins her research on beauty standards, scrolling through social media, pinning pictures, flipping through magazine pages. She begins piling on layers of makeup. With each swipe, she tries harder to fit in, manically going through different emotions like laughter, anger and sadness whilst she looks at herself in the mirror. But when she looks in the mirror, we see an absurd clown staring back.

Outside, in a vibrant ‘norm core’ city, the world moves around her. She stumbles through the crowd, trying to blend in, but her forced appearance and stiff movements stand out. Exhausted, she sits on a sidewalk, biting into an apple.

A stranger, equally out of place, sits beside her with a banana. They exchange a glance, silently asking, and looking at themselves; "What are we doing?"

Then, they laugh—softly, together, in shared absurdity.

This project follows the vulnerability and insecurity of feeling like you do not belong. It is a very personal project, as growing up in a small mediterranean city that I never felt connected to, or understood. Moving abroad helped me find a connection with myself and the people around me, I became more confident within who I am and my identity.