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Strong is the new pretty: Photos show the secret side of girls
Sugar and spice and everything nice…
A powerful photo series smashes through those age-old expectations by depicting little girls as they truly are: Brave, joyful, defiant, curious. And even a little bit messy.
Kate T. Parker is an acclaimed Atlanta-based photographer, but she’s also the mother of two young girls. It’s that last role that inspired her beautiful and aptly titled collection, “Strong is the New Pretty.”
“I wanted to celebrate these girls as they are, not how females are expected to be. I wanted to celebrate them, just as they are, and show them that is enough. Being pretty or perfect is not important. Being who they are is,” Kate says, adding, “There’s a lot of pressure for girls (and women) to look a certain way, act in certain manner, and I wanted to let my daughters know that who they naturally are is enough.”
Take a look
The intent of the collection isn’t to pigeon-hole all girls as tomboys and athletes, just as it’s not meant to dismiss outright pink and princesses. Kate says she just set out to show that little girls can’t be forced to fit the confines of a single cookie cutter mold. They are mermaids and skateboarders and everything in between. They are whoever and whatever they want to be.
“If your daughter is obsessed with pink, princesses, and ballet, amazing! Or if she is a soccer playing, tough-as-nails bookworm, great!” Kate tells PopSugar. “Allow your girls to be who they are, whatever that is. Create an environment for them to feel secure and confident in their own selves. Let them know that whatever it is, whoever they are, that’s OK. And not only [is it] OK, it’s great.”
Read and See More http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/strong-is-the-new-03262015pretty-photos-show-secret-side-of-girls/
Girls after my own heart. I was such a tomboy. I played with trucks, one of my favorite vehicles was a tractor that had sparks that flew out of the stack. My greatest joy was when my dad tossed me dress and all into the cab of his truck, way up high in the sky.
There were few trees I didn't climb, and Lol~ some I fell out of. My mom and aunt had to soak my knee one time in the tub for an hour to get all the grit out of the cut. As kids we would go into the pine forest for hours, playing cowboys and Indians. Built forts and made bows and arrows out of branches. On Sundays my mom would pull my dress out of the closet for church. It took me years before I stopped bursting into tears when I saw it and hid under the bed, 'cause I didn't want to wear the stupid dress and I sure didn't want to go to church.
See, we can be anything we want to be. These are awesome photographs of girls, being who they want to be. The beauty and spirit in these photos is awesome.
37 replies
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thanks!!!!! 
Strength. 
We all start out as wee ones, little girls. The photo essay is awesome!
bravenak
My girls are outside right now jumping and yelling. They are very strong, girl. The big one especially. I love it.
That counts freshwest, indeed it does. 
I just took a sip of water, that was a close one.
I had an electric baseball game too! Big metal board and the players ran the bases. To cool....not the silly ipad/ ipod stuff.
Brava LA!!!! 
woot~
A powerful photo series smashes through those age-old expectations by depicting little girls as they truly are: Brave, joyful, defiant, curious. And even a little bit messy.
and this
They are mermaids and skateboarders and everything in between. They are whoever and whatever they want to be.
