Virginia

We adorn ourselves in the exploits of planetary and human toil,

Never thinking twice about the cost of what we wear.

Victims played on both sides by adverts and Insta and self doubt and need as the machine continually rubs their hands in greed.

Influencers and brands churning out clothing more frequently than ever.

Promoting a life of want and waste, we consume such masses without a clue of how, what, where or who.

All is well, the mirror says.

Don’t think about the little hands that touched this thread.

The blood, the sweat, the tears, the lives. It’s easier to dehumanize.

We must change our ways for a future where all can survive.

A future that is set up for humanity to thrive,

Where our focus lies in sustainability over quantity.

But the question remains,

How uncomfortable are we willing to get to break the chains of inequality?

When you look at someone who is overweight, it is often assumed that they are unhappy.

Amber is the largest she has been in her life, but is actually happier than when she weighed less. She loves her job, the family she has created and the people she has chosen to be part of her life. It is so important to her to love herself to the fullest so that her daughter can see that and always love herself too, no matter what size or shape she is. Amber will not let herself miss out on life because she has a little jiggle here or a stretch mark there. Her favourite part of her body is her stomach because it was home for her daughter for a short while and it helped bring one of the happiest things into her life. Amber has shed the weight of society’s expectations.

This concept cost nothing to create because, luckily, my wonderful friend owns underwear ;) And we used my little home studio to create our art together.

The moon and sunrise have always been an obsession of mine – the glorious colours, the bright beacon of light just calling for me to look. So, when the two collide in a mass of cotton candy in the sky, it must be photographed. My children can attest to the fact that when we are driving to school in the morning and there is a pretty sunrise or a gorgeous moon, I just can’t take my eyes away from it. A pure feeling of joy just washes over me from seeing all of the beautiful colours dancing together in a fleeting moment. Nature gives the gift of so much beauty if you are just willing to slow down a little to enjoy it, even if just for a few minutes.