Real Weddings: Holly and Stephen’s dreamy Manhattan wedding
Real Weddings: Holly and Stephen’s dreamy Manhattan wedding

Shayna Sappington

How this clinic is transforming women’s skin this Black Friday
How this clinic is transforming women’s skin this Black Friday

IMAGE

Give the gift of luxury this Christmas with a sparkling diamond touch
Give the gift of luxury this Christmas with a sparkling diamond touch

Edaein OConnell

Feel like you can’t get ahead of your finances? It may be time for a financial review
Feel like you can’t get ahead of your finances? It may be time for a...

IMAGE

The College Green Hotel review: A 5-star stay in the heart of the city
The College Green Hotel review: A 5-star stay in the heart of the city

Sarah Gill

Join our community for a complimentary Rhythm Ride class
Join our community for a complimentary Rhythm Ride class

IMAGE

Win a €500 gift voucher to use towards training with Image Skillnet
Win a €500 gift voucher to use towards training with Image Skillnet

IMAGE

MUA Lauren Egerton’s five top tips to do your make-up like a pro
MUA Lauren Egerton’s five top tips to do your make-up like a pro

Melanie Morris

My Life in Culture: Opera singer Niamh O’Sullivan
My Life in Culture: Opera singer Niamh O’Sullivan

Sarah Finnan

Women at the Helm: Leader of the Social Democrats, Holly Cairns
Women at the Helm: Leader of the Social Democrats, Holly Cairns

Sarah Gill

Image / Beauty

Laura Whitmore: ‘I’ve been judged. For my appearance. My skin. How my hair looks. My body shape.’


By Holly O'Neill
21st Nov 2019
Laura Whitmore: ‘I’ve been judged. For my appearance. My skin. How my hair looks. My body shape.’

From the November issue of IMAGE, six Irish women reflect on what beauty means to them.


What is beauty today? For the last three years, photographer Lee Malone’s passion project has been to challenge perceptions of beauty by capturing women in their most natural, make-up-free state. In the November issue of IMAGE, he photographed six women who opened up to Holly O’Neill about what beauty means to them. Here, Laura Whitmore tells her story.

PORTRAITS BY LEE MALONE

Laura Whitmore, TV presenter and radio broadcaster

I’ve been judged. For my appearance. My skin. How my hair looks. My body shape. The media does it to women all the time. When I was approached to do this shoot with no hair or make-up, of course, I was apprehensive. This shoot is a representation of being vulnerable and strong together. I love wearing make-up and feeling good about myself, and knowing I can look reasonably good, even if I don’t feel good. But I loved feeling more exposed. No matter what you look like, or what you do, we all judge to some extent. To be able to strip it all back was rather wonderful: to feel tired and look tired, to capture a moment of truth, without anything to hide behind.

Lee Malone is hoping to publish his Perceptions of Beauty book of portraits next year with money raised going towards various women’s mental health and domestic abuse charities. @lee_malone_photography

This article originally appeared in the November issue of IMAGE Magazine.

Read more: We need to talk about Trilogy’s €15.95 Everything Balm

Read more: Hair Stories: Mary Dunne on how her grey hair has made her more confident now than ever

Read more: Can we talk about… the 25-year anniversary edition of MAC Viva Glam Lipstick