25/06/2023
Concept by .zralka titled Beauty
Photography-
Concept interpretation by
“Growing up as the child of immigrants in London, for me beauty could not be sought out in conventional ways such as media, magazines or movies, which did not seem to represent me or other ethnic minorities.
Alternatively I saw beauty in my mother, a woman who despite juggling a career in the city while raising three children was always effortlessly beautiful. I was enthralled by her clothes and jewellery, so much so that I would frequently pick what she would wear. From a young age my mother not only informed my early understanding of beauty, but she pushed me to do what I loved. It would be conceivable to assume that without her push, I would not be pursuing a career in fashion today. As such, I chose to channel her, while simultaneously celebrating my own South Asian heritage.
Jewellery and Surma are both often used in South Asian culture to enhance one's beauty. Surma, Kohl or Kajal, all refer to a form of charcoal eyeliner worn in South Asian culture. It is thought to have benefits for the eyes while being worn by men, women and even children.
The combination of traditionally feminine jewellery and attire with my own 'masculine' appearance fuses together two parts of my identity which I have spent years trying to keep a part due to the opinions of others. The indistinction of masculinity and femininity in itself is beautiful in its refusal to conform to man-made societal norms, rendering prior notions of binarily opposite genders as obsolete. For me this fusion is an embodiment of how far I have come, in regards to being comfortable in my own skin rather than worrying about what others have to say.
Overall this is a celebration of various parts of me from my heritage to my q***r identity, all while channelling my pioneer of beauty, my mother. If any message is to be taken from this it should be that you are beautiful,
regardless of vour culture or how vou like to dress and most importantly you set your own standards as to what is beautiful.”