Your Stories - Elizabeth

Content Warning: These stories contain mentions of body dysmorphia, body image struggles, pregnancy loss, fertility struggles and gendered violence. If you find any of the below triggering, please find a list of helpful and free resources below:

DV/SV: 1800 RESPECT

Mental Health: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Eating Disorders and Body Image Issues: Butterfly Foundation 1800 ED HOPE

From the moment Elizabeth arrived, the studio felt happier. Not louder. Happier. She has that effect. Salt-of-the-earth, deeply kind, a little silly, wildly generous with her compliments, and completely unaware of how gorgeous she is. The kind of person who makes you feel good just by being near her. 

She applied for our Model Call knowing full well that she lives on the other side of the country, but she wanted it more than anything so she and her partner flew over just for this experience!

Her body has always been a mixed bag for her. Endometriosis. PCOS. ADHD. Anxiety. Some days she feels connected and strong, other days bloated and sore and stuck in her head, struggling to see what her partner sees so easily. She talked about wanting something simple. A reminder. A touchstone. Something she could look at on the days her body felt unfamiliar and loud. It’s hard to believe that someone who is like fireworks on the outside, can hold so much inside. 

The shoot itself felt easy. Lots of laughing. Lots of “oh my god I LOVE that.” No hesitation in her joy. No holding back. She let herself be seen fully and warmly, exactly as she is.

Getting the honour to take her through her gallery was one of the record books. We were squealing and laughing with glee and rolling on the floor in excitement. How lucky to be there for the moment she saw herself in a new light. 

And then time did its funny little thing.

After she flew home, after the album was already on its way to her, something happened which turned these images into something quietly profound without changing their energy at all. Still her. Just now holding a secret she didn’t know yet.

We know that we will see you again