5-Year-Old Girl Transforms Into Inspirational African American Women In Black History Month Project
5-Year-Old Girl Transforms Into Black Heroines In Stunning Project
Rachel Moss— The Huffington Post UK
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To mark Black History Month, photographer Marc Bushelle and his wife Janine Harper wanted to teach their daughter about some amazing women from the past and present.
Inspired by photographer Jaime Moore's project Not Just A Girl, the couple took beautiful pictures of five-year-old Lily posed as their African American heroines.
The portraits tell the stories of women from different fields and all walks of life, which is exactly what HuffPost UK Lifestyle's campaign All Women Everywhere is about.
Here's Lily as author and Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison..
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Here she is as Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel in space...
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And here she is as singer and model Grace Jones...
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While having fun playing dress-up, mum and dad taught Lily about each of the women she was representing.
Speaking to NPR.org, Harper said: "We hope that by making these associations early we will instill a strong pride in her that will fortify her against any discrimination she may face in the future."
The photos have been so popular on Facebook that the couple are extending their project beyond Black History Month and have started to take requests from parents wanting similar pictures of their own children.
Inspiration: Profiles Of Black Women Changing The World
Ruby Dee(01 of08)
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"We certainly know, Ruby's body of work as an actor, as an activist, as a wife, as a mother is really unprecedented." (credit:Lauri Lyons)
Misty Copeland(02 of08)
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"Misty Copeland, the only black soloist with the American Ballet Theater Company, is outrageously talented but hands down beautiful ... and a prodigy. She kind of reminds me, with her humility and enormous talent, of Beyonce. Just someone who is so committed to her craft and so at the top of their game, but so humble. Their ambition is manifested by them just getting the job done." (credit:Lauri Lyons)
Michelle Obama(03 of08)
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"In my opinion, she hasn't only gotten better every year, Michelle Obama exponentially ups her game like every week. Talk about someone who, from private life, got thrown into the deep end. To have to so carefully choose every word, every outfit, every cause ... she's just walked this line brilliantly. She exudes such a completeness as a woman that we can all aspire to." (credit:Lauri Lyons)
Mary J. Blige(04 of08)
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"Mary is someone who was raised in such a tough environment, who had so many challenges and, as she will say, was brought up in a neighborhood of girls who could all sing. For her to get past her inner demons and to find her voice and her confidence, but never really compromise who she is, [is inspiring]." (credit:Lauri Lyons)
Debra Martin Chase(05 of08)
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"She essentially is the top black female Hollywood producer out there. Someone like Debra, who is just so brilliant and razor sharp and has really played hardball in a man's game in Hollywood, which is uber competitive, and succeeded, is incredibly inspiring and beautiful ... inside and out." (credit:Lauri Lyons)
Iman(06 of08)
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"Iman knew her value at 19 years old when she was in Nairobi and Peter Beard spotted her and wanted her to come to the United States to take photos. She always knew 'I have value and I'm not one of those people who is going to jump at anything thrown my way. I'm going to assess the situation and figure out how it honors what my worth is -- as a woman, as a human and potentially as a model.' That's how she has lived her life and I find that to be incredibly inspiring." (credit:Lauri Lyons)
Laila Ali(07 of08)
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"Muhammad Ali's daughter entered a man's profession as a boxer and had the confidence and fearlessness (and yes, talent) to really make history. And [she's still] a gorgeous woman and incredibly ladylike." (credit:Lauri Lyons)