A photographer from New Jersey is taking the internet by storm with her compelling photo series that drives home the message: “You don’t owe prettiness to anyone.” In a matter of days, this series has garnered over 285,000 shares on Facebook, along with more than 10,000 comments and 133,000 likes.
Madison Green captured the essence of this project, titled “Project: Self Love,” through the lens of 17 incredible women. Each participant donned a black swimsuit and held up a sign featuring a hurtful comment they had received about their bodies that had affected their self-esteem. “These women opened up about their experiences and shared parts of their hearts as well as their bodies,” Green explained on her Facebook page. The striking visuals highlight the absurd beauty standards we impose on ourselves and serve as a sobering reminder of the damaging words we often say based on these unrealistic ideals. The courage these women displayed in sharing their stories is truly uplifting.
In a poignant twist, each woman also wrote down a personal fact about themselves unrelated to their appearance. “It was amazing to see their expressions transform when they held up their second card,” Green noted. “Each one of them is beautiful, without exception. I hope they felt that truth, even if just for a few hours.”
Inspired by a well-known quote, Madison wants to remind everyone that “You Don’t Have to Be Pretty.” Erin McKean’s powerful words resonate deeply: “You don’t owe prettiness to anyone. Not to your boyfriend, spouse, or partner, not to your coworkers, and especially not to random men on the street. You don’t owe it to your mother or your children, nor to society at large. Prettiness is not a toll you pay for taking up space as a woman.”
And when you need a reminder of how to confront society’s unrealistic beauty standards, just look at the strength and beauty of these women.
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Summary
A powerful photo series titled “Project: Self Love” by Madison Green features 17 women sharing hurtful comments about their bodies while also celebrating their unique qualities. The series emphasizes that beauty is not a requirement and encourages self-love and acceptance. Inspired by Erin McKean’s famous quote, the project has gone viral and serves as a reminder of the importance of body positivity.