September 1,  2016

I stumbled on this project completely by accident.  At first, the idea of participating was out of the question.  As a pre-op and pre-HRT transwoman, the thought of being photographed without clothes or makeup did not seem an option.  In perusing some of the other models' photos, however, I noticed both great power and a beautiful serenity in them.  The fact that the subjects were naked seemed not to matter at all in light of this power and serenity.  I began to see that Anastasia had the ability to capture her subjects' identities and to allow them to be expressed in a way that clothing, makeup, and prosthetic breasts cannot convey.

When I met Anastasia, I was immediately at ease.  We had never met before, but it seemed as if we were old friends.  We talked at length as we drank tea and ate an amazing plantain and egg dish that is now a regular part of my diet.  After such an in depth discussion, there was nothing embarrassing or awkward about removing my clothes.  It seemed not only logical but necessary, and I was completely at ease.  Our conversation continued uninterrupted as she began photographing.  Some of the photos were taken while I was playing the piano, though the piano itself cannot be seen.  Anastasia and I agreed that these were the ones in which my femininity was most apparent.

By the end of the session, I felt as if 20 or 30 photos had been taken and was shocked to learn that there well over 100.  Viewing them brought tears to my eyes.  I am someone who never leaves the house without concealer and foundation, and I'm self-conscious if I'm without eye makeup.  Yet there I was with no clothes, no makeup, no breasts, and a completely shaved body.  I was me at my core.  And I was beautiful.