I use photography and writing to amplify quiet stories and celebrate the beauty and dignity in people and communities.

Breaking Beautiful was my first organized effort to advocate for myself and other women.

Throughout girlhood, I had received the message that beauty should look a certain way from the media and society. My hair, my body, my skin were all an affront to this standardized definition. As I looked around my college campus, I saw a world of beauty to be celebrated. My intention with this portrait series was to reclaim our power as women to define beauty for ourselves and to give voice to the uniqueness of each individual.

Since then, I have continued to use my art to advocate and elevate the voices of others, most recently focusing on themes surrounding race and immigrant rights. With every image taken and story shared, I seek to release joy, empathy, appreciation, and value for people into the world.

Click to view images at larger scale.