Using the Iconic “Disney Princess” as a vessel to represent constructed hyper-femininity, this series aims to disrupt the American society’s assertion of gender. To Be a Queen is a series of directed performances of four people, who in 2013 were exploring the world of drag. This is an updated artist statement, where I can now reflect in 2019, that many of these people have transitioned, and thus this project may have different meaning for them.
Yet, in these images, they masquerade not only as princesses, but as Disney’s idea of femininity. Through copied mass produced poses of the princesses, these images break the boundaries on the constrained idea of a princess, or woman: fragile, damsels in distress, materialistic, and nothing more than objects of desire—showing that anyone can masquerade as a princess, but to be a Queen comes from within.
I want to thank the models and Queens who helped me create this project. I have always been an outsider, but ally, within this community. Thank you for sharing your stories, time, and energy with me. Thank you to Chelsea Von Chastity, Madisin Margielo, “Gia”, and “Local Honey”
This project is an exploratory photography piece with elements of performance as I try to emulate the woman of many talents and awards, my mother. Based on the concept from an analysis of the film, Rebecca, that “all women become one”, I sought to transform into my mother as I struggled with facing my own journey through life. This project is unfinished and ongoing.
This series explores women who play hockey, which is a very male dominated sport. For me, these women (mothers, daughters, friends) represent strength, power, and the resiliency of women.
The following images are excerpts from events that I have covered along with other commissioned work.
