#iwult

We end this series of #iwokeuplikethis with this lovely woman here. One of my favorite photographs I've ever taken happens to be of my long-time friend, Ashley, my sista from anotha mista. I'm happy to have her be the end and the introduction into another series down the road. This photograph is proof that there is always growth in the process, that there are many beginnings and endings and they are constantly developing as long as you keep going. It is proof that this project has changed and shaped me, as much as I had hoped the project would change and shape the conversation we were bringing to the front lines.

A huge thank you to all the #iwult girls. You're all my hero's and I admire you. Next week there will be one last comment and I hope you'll all be a part of the discussion. For now, enjoy our 19th and final #iwult of this series:

"I was extremely self-conscious when I was younger, but that has faded as I have become much more in tune with myself. I know my imperfections, and I am okay with them. They don't necessarily make me self-conscious anymore.

Beauty can mean so much. It can be physical or metaphysical. I believe beauty is more about a feeling and less about an observation, unless, of course, it's an observation of feeling. Beauty is experiencing something and becoming so overwhelmed with joy that you can't help but smile or even laugh."

“The word beauty to me means both how you carry yourself on the inside and out. To me, beauty is nice, caring, and loving. 

It is important for me to be honest about my own beauty because I should not try to feel more confident than I should about the way I look, but also I should not bring myself down with the thoughts that I’m not pretty enough. Therefore, I need to be true to myself and not think of my beauty as any more or any less.”