feature: photographer ailton fraga rejects media and societal standards of beauty and encourages female empowerment in new editorial series

In this recent editorial project, shot for International Women’s Day, photographer Ailton Fraga presents an image of beauty that goes unseen: black, fat, coiled hair, stretch-marked, etc. and the empowerment that can come with taking ownership of one’s body and body image. This includes claiming the right to “be” any way you want to. To define your own version of femme or masc, or chuck them both altogether! Whatever empowers and fufills you—no matter what body you have. “Every woman has the right to show her body as she wants to, to society,” Fraga tells AFROPUNK.

Model: Kezia

www.facebook.com/AiltonFraga28
www.blogdoton.com.br

*Erin White is an Atlanta-based writer and AFROPUNK’s editorial and social media assistant. You can follow her on Tumblr or friend her on Facebook. Have a pitch or an inquiry? Shoot her an email at erin@afropunk.com.