“This Is For The Women Who Don't Give A Fuck“
“Growing up on the Isle of Man, I always felt a strong connection to nature, yet my own body felt dictated by rigid, unwritten rules. When I joined Ben’s project, it was a quiet rebellion. For years, I had accepted the chore of shaving as an evolutionary tax for being born female. Stopping was incredibly liberating, but it also brought a strange vulnerability. In a close-knit island community, stepping outside the norm gets noticed quickly. I’ve received warm, supportive smiles from other girls, but also tight-lipped grimaces in the local supermarket. This shoot isn't about shock value; it’s about normalcy. It’s an honest look at the skin I live in, capturing that bittersweet transition from performing womanhood to simply living it.”
Shelly, speaking as part of a tribute to Ben Hopper’s “Natural Beauty” project.
