With over 10 years of experience behind the camera and a love for all things beauty and fashion, I’ve always been inspired by the timeless imagery of the past — yet it never reflected the representation I understood early on.

From the age of two to eleven, I spent my days in daycare, shaped by an environment where race was never the focus. As a Canadian-born woman who grew up seeing people rather than skin colour, I had the privilege of understanding that complexion or genetic differences should never determine what is considered beautiful or worthy. I believe we are each genetically and purposefully designed to thrive in our environments.

In its early days, beauty and fashion photography were primarily developed around European standards, as European men chose the cameras, publications, marketing, beauty companies, and standards.

From lighting setups to how film rendered skin tones, studios and publications designed their aesthetics to flatter lighter complexions, setting a visual standard that excluded much of the world’s diversity. While European aesthetics are also beautiful, they became the default ideal and preference, leaving little room to celebrate and experiment with the richness of other skin tones and ethnicities.

This limited not only representation but also the creative growth of photography itself, particularly in learning how to light, capture, and use colour to accurately enhance the beauty of diverse complexions.

From melanin-rich skin that evolved to shield against the sun, to lighter tones that absorbed more light in colder climates, human features have always been a reflection of adaptation. Broad noses helped humidify hot, dry air; narrower ones suited colder regions. Coily and curlier hair protects the scalp from heat, while straighter textures retain warmth. I believe every feature of skin, lips, hair, and bone structure is shaped by environment, geography, time and survival. Over generations, environmental pressures shaped these traits, resulting in the rich human diversity we see today. Diversity was never accidental. It is intelligent, resilient, and beautiful.

Throughout history, women of all complexions have deserved to be seen, celebrated, and showcased. Differences were never limitations — they are a purposeful design.