I see society as a reflection of oneself. I am society; therefore I am comfortable in society.
“I always show up as Benji, who might wear eyeshadow to work and then the gym. Wearing makeup separates me from other men, even gay ones. I’m a Queer Latino living in Central Florida who hopes to find a place in the LGBTQ community.”
“I am a queer, femme, multi-racial, eccentric dressing, avant-garde makeup-wearing weirdo.”
“I’ve always felt comfortable expressing my gender and sexuality through the way I look, my 2 fathers raised me and my twin sister in a highly artistic and educated household.”- Cameron
“Being a twin our style and interests are at times very similar, our hair colors not only let us stand out from most people but from each other. “ - Laurel
“I feel like a piece of glitter in a cloud of dust, I’m not afraid to shine.”
“Gender and sexuality are a very big part of my life, both in figuring them out as I grew up and coming to understand where I fit in, being a transmasculine nonbinary lesbian.”
“As a young Black man, and a confident one at that, I’ve never been comfortable with any stereotypical box that society may try to put me in. I take pleasure in being myself without excuse and knowing that I’m good enough. “
“I’m heavily influenced by underground and punk culture. I like to combine elements of punk, goth, trap and metal subcultures that represent the music I listen to, how I’m feeling, and where I am in life. The result is something different, energetic and new.”
“When you look good, you feel good. I love expressing myself through color and you can tell whether I’m in a comfortable fit or dressed up for a night out that my personality speaks for itself.”
salad days is a portrait series featuring young adults in Florida who are discovering their identity through fashion and ones own self-awareness.
“I like to experiment with gender and androgyny because I myself identify as non-binary. That being said, I really just look out for what makes me look unique while screaming creativity and charisma. “
“I’ve spent years and years trying to understand my sexuality/gender and the biggest lesson I’ve learned through my journey is that everything is fluid (at least for me) I try to just feel authentic and not worry too much about labelling myself.”
“Other people may think it's strange, but I have a pretty strong connection with my hair and for the past 5 years that I've been growing it, it's been symbolic for me.”
“I think I find joy in things that others would deem “childish” or “tacky.” I love maximalism and filling every corner of my room with things I love. I think I express who I am and what I’m feeling on the outside a lot more than some people I have met.”
“I feel different because nobody else is me.”
“As far as “beauty norms” go, Braces and glasses are usually considered part of the “Before” picture. I think I rock them just as I am! “
“I see myself as having to work a little harder than the average person to get noticed by higher-ups because not only am I a woman in America but I’m a BLACK woman in America. “
“My gender is fluid and I see gender as just that. A fluid substance. It's very easy for me to transition between genders. I'm not rigid in the concept. And as for sexuality, I'm very open about it. I feel people should experience all that they can safely and with an open mind.”
“I come from two very different cultural backgrounds, and context is everything! As an American I have a very complex relationship with my middle eastern heritage; it’s hard enough to figure yourself out without rigid and opposing cultural expectations. At some point, you just have to say fuck it! I’m trying to embrace being uncomfortable. “
“I see society as a reflection of oneself. I am society; therefore I am comfortable in society.”
“I like to experiment with gender and androgyny because I myself identify as non-binary. That being said, I really just look out for what makes me look unique while screaming creativity and charisma. “
“Instead of feeling out of place, I now feel welcomed by others like me with similar interests and ways of self-expression!”
“I guess another thing that makes me feel different is growing up in Latinx (more specifically, religious Puerto Rican) communities, it’s pretty traumatizing. I’m definitely the black sheep of my family and all the places I grew up in. Till this day, I get negative comments from family or old church friends or anyone about “dressing ridiculous” or “manly”, being queer... they just need to get with the times and accept the diversity and stop shaming people that you don’t share anything in common with.”
“Not long ago I shaved all my hair off. For years I got teased and was self-conscious about my hair/hairline. I would almost always wear a hat to hide it and the times where a hat wasn’t accepted were my most stressful moments. After years of battling this I finally made the jump to get ahead of the curve and embrace my genetic code. “
