Through this series of moving images I am exploring a discourse about self-portraits – or as called in modern times, the 'selfie' – to redefine self-portraits, or selfies, as a powerful movement and action in changing perspectives of beauty in the beauty industry. From the past to current and future times, women’s beauty standards will always be speculated on and controlled through the power of advertising. Therefore, by creating these ideologies for women and young females to chase as unreachable beauty 'standards', this installs fear into the livelihoods of many females. This is also the case for males. I remember the pressures of growing up as an adolescent and forming misconceptions of what it meant to be beautiful. Now shifting into adulthood I have come to realise the strength of not listening and not absorbing the standards that were set for myself and others. I aimed to take back strength and power in my self-image, even though putting on makeup, as to me it shows that females, males and all people can control the perspectives of their own appearance. Selfies shouldn’t be seen as vain but as a way of redefining our own self-images for everyone.

Self Portraits, 2021  

GIF  

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