Photographer Liora K and body-positive blogger and activist Jes Baker have collaborated on the ‘Expose Project’, a project that showcases women’s body types that you don’t see in magazines.
The pair started the project to rebut unrealistic beauty standards fueled by Photoshopped images of celebrities in the media, that weren’t an accurate representation of what real women look like.
“We all know that what we see in the media isn’t the whole story. It’s not representative of all of us. And because of what we see (or rather DON’T see) we start to believe that we are the only one with our particular stretch marks. Our uneven boobs. Our scarred legs. Our asymmetrical nipples. Our belly shape. Our body hair. Our what-ever-it-is-that-you-don’t-see-on-display-any-where-else... Rarely do we see our beautiful and complex combination of body parts that makes us magnificent,” states the description on the website.
K and Baker held an open call on Facebook in 2013 which resulted in 68 women coming forward to be photographed nude.
The pair were so moved by the response that they held a second, bigger shoot that saw 98 women of diverse nationalities and backgrounds participating.
A celebration of the beauty of real women, the photographs feature them smiling and baring their bodies in a bold expression of pride and confidence.
Heartened by the success of the two shoots, K and Baker are already looking forward to the third part of the project next year, where they plan to include transgender bodies as well.
Check out some portraits below, and view the entire collection at the ‘Expose Project’ website.
[via PolicyMic, images via Expose Project]