In an era increasingly focused on authenticity and inclusivity, a growing number of artists, activists, and individuals are challenging outdated beauty ideals. Among them is a London-based photographer whose ongoing project, Natural Beauty, has stirred conversation across social platforms by confronting long-held taboos about female body hair, particularly armpit hair.
Diverse Perspectives: Voices Behind the Lens
The women featured in Natural Beauty share a range of experiences and motivations. Some speak of liberation and empowerment, while others emphasize the desire to feel comfortable without needing to conform.
Kyotocat, a model in the series, shared: “I felt so relieved and free when I let it grow out. It felt like being able to breathe.”
Sophie Rose reflected: “It’s empowering to not hide. You feel stronger for not giving in to the way you’ve been told to be.”
Gabriela Eva, who grew her armpit hair specifically for the shoot, said: “It made me feel vulnerable at first, but eventually empowered.”
While reactions from the models varied, a common theme emerged: the process of unlearning societal conditioning and embracing body autonomy.
Source: Natural Beauty by Ben Hopper
A Shift in Mainstream Attitudes?
In recent years, more public figures and brands have embraced natural body hair as part of their messaging on inclusivity. Celebrities like Amandla Stenberg, Madonna, and Lourdes Leon have appeared in public and editorial shoots without shaving, sparking media conversations.
Major fashion brands, including Billie and Veet, have also begun to feature models with visible body hair in ad campaigns, signaling a shift toward body-positive representation.
“Beauty standards are not fixed. They evolve with culture and conversation,” says Dr. Renee Engeln, a professor of psychology at Northwestern University. “The more we challenge narrow definitions of beauty, the more space we create for self-acceptance.”
A Mysterious Gift That Left Me Speechless Ever gotten a gift so strange, so completely confusing, that your brain does a full gymnastics routine trying to figure it out? That happened to me the other day. I was visiting a close friend, just hanging out like we always do, when he suddenly got this mischievous…
Sometimes the past doesn’t return with grandeur—it slips in quietly through a forgotten video or a memory reborn by chance. That’s what happened when Emma Heming Willis, wife of actor Bruce Willis, opened Instagram’s “Memories” feature and was met with a tender reminder of her husband before illness changed their lives. The clip was simple:…
**Missing Girl Discovered Alive** After almost a week of intense searching, a young girl who had disappeared was found alive in a secluded forest. Rescue teams reported she was exhausted and frightened but, against all odds, unharmed. **A Disturbing Revelation** The relief of her rescue quickly turned to shock when officials disclosed a horrifying detail:…
A glimpse into a touching story from Oklahoma was shared by the group “Dreamcatchers for Abused Children” on Facebook. This organization aids children who have suffered abuse within their families. A young boy from Oklahoma endured severe neglect and abuse from his alcoholic parents. Neighbors alerted the police, leading to his rescue and placement with…
The pregnant sow went into labor, had a high fever, and they thought she would die When Emma the pig arrived at Apricot Lane Farm, she was in critical condition—weak, sick, and heavily pregnant. Veterinarians didn’t have much hope for her survival, expecting she’d give birth to no more than six piglets. However, Emma defied…
Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show has been suspended indefinitely by ABC. The network confirmed the program would be preempted “for the foreseeable future,” starting immediately. This drastic action follows intense backlash to comments made by Kimmel. The controversy stems from Kimmel’s remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. During his Monday monologue, Kimmel criticized…
