Embrace Your Essence

What do you embrace about yourself? Speak to me. Show me. Tell me how you define yourself, and show me who you want to be. This is a series on women who were asked to identify what they see as extraordinary, unique and eye-catching in their physical appearance. The objects incorporated are used to show what defines their souls as warm, illuminating, and courageous. It's time for women to embrace themselves for what they are: beautiful. #EmbraceYourEssence

Year: 2015

The essence I embrace…
“Are my curves…I kind of want to be like this all day…just naked.” Felicia

The essence I embrace…
“Is my birthmark. It covers my entire left leg.” O-Slice

The mike represents her love for performing as a rapper, and is infamously known on campus by her stage name O-Slice.

The essence I embrace…
“My bone structure. I feel like I have really Indian features. Growing up, my strong, facial bone structure made me insecure, but as I got older I practiced self-love and embracing who I am.” Sana

The essence I embrace…
“Are my eyes.” Leah. Little Cloud by Eric Carle represents her dream to be children’s art teacher.

The essence I embrace…
“Is Lola…that’s the name of my hair” Brianna. She aspires to write a book.

The essence I embrace…
“Are my feet.”
My whole life I loved to dance, but people don’t really understand how much work goes into the craft. Many think I just have an easy major, but my body is constantly working.” Sydney

The essence I embrace…
“Are my dimples. It’s funny; technically a dimple is considered a skin deformity, but I always saw it as a reminder of my childhood innocence.” Niny

The dandelions symbolize the idea of a plant being identified as a weed; an imperfection we see in nature. But in childhood we see it as a flower used to spread wishful hope.

The essence I embrace…
“Are my ears. Can you hear me? Haha, it is a necessity for me to wear earrings everyday. If not, I feel like I started my day on the wrong foot, and based on how hard I work, being on the wrong foot is not an option.” Jewel

The essence I embrace…
“Is my stomach. A strong core means i can hold myself up; every day, in yoga, in life, and through many hours of supporting women through childbirth. My belly may not be your perfect, but it’s my perfect, and it is my teacher every day. The scarf is used as a symbol for the Rebozo I use during births.” Roni