What is beauty? In the Winter issue of IMAGE Magazine, on sale now, creative director Lawson Mpame and director Itchey Drew capture a diverse and unique collective whose lives and industries have been individually shaped by perceptions of beauty, who share how their journey with beauty has changed and evolved their perspectives and what beauty means to them.
The Price Of Beauty – Emer Lenihan, professional ballet dancer
“The ballerina is the personification of beauty. She’s the embodiment of beauty according to society and the standard that many women out there can never ever achieve. They put their bodies put through a gruelling process from years of seeking perfection which is just unattainable and a grave price that has to be paid to achieve this level of perfectionism.”– Lawson Mpame and Itchey Drew
“With the stress of image in the dance world I have found physical beauty hard to find in myself. However, I have learnt to not let other people’s views of me define me and continue to love what I do. I find beauty in dancing, I see beauty in choreography and the way that lets people express themselves. Dancing allows me to express how I feel without the need to use words, it is such a beautiful and physical art form. I would tell my younger self to be more confident – in ability, in dancing, in friendships and all relationships. I would tell myself to always stand up for what I believe in and always chase my dreams. For me, the word beauty means the way you deal with and treat situations and people. Beauty is the choice to make others happy and feel worthy.” – Emer Lenihan
The Illusion Of Beauty –Jip Eli, professional model
“The model removing make-up with intent conveys that true beauty lies underneath make-up.” – Lawson Mpame and Itchey Drew
“For me, beauty is very interlinked with identity and self-expression. That’s probably why I like fashion so much. Finding who I am, what I want to look like and how I express myself is a lifelong exploration. I see it as an enjoyable journey where you should take risks, look inward as well as outward and try to find confidence along the way. I firmly believe that everyone has the right to be confident and part of confidence is valuing yourself equally to others. I try to be truthful to myself and hope I can make others feel they can do the same. Beauty is something that’s pleasing to the senses. It’s universal yet different for everyone, that’s the beauty of it!” – Jip Eli
The Accessibility Of Beauty – James McGill, accessibility advocate
“The pedestal used throughout the shoot is to showcase that these models should be worshipped, celebrated and showcased in beauty. You rarely see a model in a wheelchair represented on magazine covers.” – Lawson Mpame and Itchey Drew
“My journey with my own beauty has been in accepting the transition in my life as a wheelchair user and realising it doesn’t change who I am as a person: I know now I have the strength and determination to overcome the most challenging of times. I wish I could tell my younger self to always appreciate the people in your life who matter because the beauty of life is in those friendships and relationships. When it comes to what I find attractive, in others I find confidence beautiful, but in myself, empathy is an important trait.” – James McGill
The Perception Of Beauty – Mishi Hasana, professional model
“It’s a celebration of her beauty, power and the unique qualities that make her beautiful. She’s not afraid to show off the unique qualities she has, she’s a strong, mixed race woman who embraces her identity and beauty on all levels.” – Lawson Mpame and Itchey Drew
“There’s a surface level to beauty but I know it can be so much deeper. My experience with my own beauty really was a journey. From when you’re a little girl to a grown woman, you’re told and sold on what beauty is and if you don’t fit into that you almost feel alien. From my identity being biracial, being a woman, being ambiguous looking, I learnt that beauty really is subjective. My approach to beauty changed with age.I don’t really wear as much make up, I’m more confident in my skin. The more I grew, I realised that I’m not supposed to look like anyone else, we are all supposed to look different and find different things beautiful.” – Mishi Hasana
The Traditions of Beauty – Kate Grant, professional model
“We wanted Kate to look strong, on a pedestal, in a power suit – she is here to be taken seriously.” – Lawson Mpame and Itchey Drew
“I wish I could tell my younger self to believe in myself and have courage. I have struggled with managing society’s perception of beauty and now I think that my self-belief is my superpower. One of my favourite things about myself is my ability to accept people for who they are and treating everyone equally and to me, kindness is the most attractive trait. It shows in your eyes, in your smile, on your face and in your actions.” – Kate Grant
The Colour Of Beauty – Mathias Teko Foley, professional model
“The body artwork is a representation of the many people with albinism around the world who share this unique trait. It’s about acceptance, love, compassion and inclusion. In some parts of the world, they are subjected to horrific treatment and some cases even death. We wanted this to highlight that just because they may lack pigmentation, it doesn’t mean they are not a part of us, that they aren’t beautiful and that they shouldn’t be championed.”– Lawson Mpame and Itchey Drew
“My mum’s white and from Denmark and my dad is black and from Togo in West Africa. I was born with albinism, which is quite an unusual combination in Denmark. From an early age, I felt a lack of belonging. My albinism and African features made me stand out, and as much as I wanted to fit in, I never succeeded. My brother, who sadly passed away when I was a kid, also had albinism and was the sole person I could relate to at the time. I began to rebel against the norm and spent my childhood and teenage years chasing uniqueness through the way I dressed, my hairstyles and my hobbies. My own perception of beauty changed when I started doing photography and began to appreciate physical features. I would tell my younger self to stop worrying about fitting in and be happy about the way I look – I am more than enough.” – Mathias Teko Foley
The Shape Of Beauty – Anushka P, professional model
“To us beauty is being comfortable in your own skin, embracing the things that make you unique, self identity. It’s loving yourself for the imperfections that society deems imperfections, not paying the price of society’s version of what is deemed beautiful.” – Lawson Mpame and Itchey Drew
“I really believe what makes someone beautiful is their aura. My journey with my own beauty has been difficult for me as I was a very insecure growing up – as they say, you are your own worst critic. I look back at those photos and think, wow, I was just a kid and yet I used to compare myself to these blonde, pale models. I’ve really grown from that and found my own sense of beauty and confidence. I love my stretch marks, it shows literal proof of my growth, both in weight and in muscle. I would tell my younger self that it’s okay that you don’t look like everyone else. That doesn’t mean you aren’t beautiful, everyone is beautiful in their own way.” – Anushka P
The Age Of Beauty – Sioux Carroll, professional model
“We want to show that beauty is timeless it doesn’t stop as we age. There is true beauty in ageing gracefully.” – Lawson Mpame and Itchey Drew
“Throughout this project, I observed beauty and was in awe of how diverse beauty is. Beauty is what you value, and nurture to blossom. Embrace with grace what the universe delivers. My journey with my own beauty has been tough experiences that culminated in a place of contentment in life’s journey. I love to laugh, and I find joy in making others laugh too. I would tell my younger self, don’t waste your energy in dark places. Follow the light. I find beauty in people with a zest or passion for life.” – Sioux Carroll
Creative direction Lawson Mpame. Director Itchey Drew. Photography by Wiktoria Bialas and Mark Sosiak. Art Director: Lawson Mpame, Director of photography: Itchey Drew. Lighting: Mark Sosiak, lighting assistants: Denise Kavunov and Fabiola Melo. Stylist: Lorna Spaine. Hair: Maria Whiting. Make-up: Jessy Malone. Choreographer: Jessie Thompson. Runner: Max Korol. Location: D-Light Studios. Set: Ten Four and We Are Platinum. Clothing: French Connection and Primark. Special thanks to Camerakit.ie.
IMAGE Winter 2023
The Winter issue of IMAGE is here, and festive sparkles are on our mind, from our fashion shoot full of party-ready pieces to the home of jeweller Chupi Sweetman-Durney which is full of glinting gold. Plus, we learn how to make the most of festive leftovers, and are planning a winter break to remember. Plus: * Big knits * Cool corduroy * In studio with Pearl Reddington * Audrey Hepburn’s Irish connections * Confidence at work * A Kilimanjaro adventure * Beauty gifts to give yourself * Practical magic * A ski retreat with a difference * Weekend escapes * and so much more…
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