A London based photographer is challenging the standard beauty practices, by photographing actresses and models who have decided to grow out their body hair.
Photographer Ben Hopper asked a group of models and actresses to grow out their body hair for his Natural Beauty series. The collection of shots aim to prove that women don’t need to conform to society’s expectations in order to be attractive. The photographer also requested the subjects to go bare-faced in the name of the natural focus of the project.
Mr Hopper sees his project as a ‘type of protest’ against the beauty industry, writing on his website:
“Although armpit hair is a natural state it has become a statement. Why is that?
“For almost a century we have been brainwashed by the beauty industry, encouraging hair removal. Natural Beauty could be classified as a type of protest.”
Hopper said the power of the campaign hit home after one model pulled out of the photoshoot, disgusted by her own body hair.
The project is launched in the same week Veet came under controversy for releasing a series of TV ads encouraging women to ‘control their dudeness’ insinuating that one day’s hair growth turns women into men.
Images via Ben Hopper
