Project Beauty fargo

Redefining

BEAUTY STANDARDS for YOUNG WOMEN

social media often gives us a frontrow seat to other people’s lives, but that access has its drawbacks. Many of us suffer the effects of comparison while looking through someone else’s highlight reel. Comparison can be especially damaging for young girls. The constant exposure to seemingly perfect women can take a significant toll on their self-image and confidence. Local photographer Stacy Kennedy is on a mission to redefine how beauty is depicted online with Project Beauty Fargo.

Project Beauty was initially started in 2017 by awardwinning senior photographer Thomas Nguyen. His goal was to help young women let go of social media’s beauty standards and feel more comfortable in their bodies by embracing their inner beauty and imperfections. Project Beauty quickly grew into a movement spanning the nation, and its message resonated deeply with Kennedy.

Her own work photographing high school seniors brought to light the pressure many teenage girls feel to live up to the impossible beauty standards imposed by social media. With photos of influencers and Instagram models filling up their feeds, they think they have to look or act a certain way. Having seen first-hand how social media affects young women, Kennedy knew she had to bring Project Beauty to Fargo.

While she felt called to do so, the timing always seemed to be off. It wasn’t until she met Missy Heilman, the founder of BIO Girls, that things started to fall into place. “It felt like the stars finally aligned,” she recalls. “I was looking at my calendar a few weeks after we met, and Missy and BIO Girls instantly popped into my head. It was meant to be, and I knew this year was the year I needed to do it.”

By bringing Project Beauty to Fargo, Kennedy hopes to reshape beauty standards for young women in the area. She invited local high school girls to participate in a photoshoot showcasing their beauty in its purest form, free of makeup, filters and brands.

“You could tell starting off that the girls were very shy, but as we started shooting and playing around, you could see them relax. The fact that they were having their photo taken without makeup went away, and they just started to have fun with it. You could just really feel their confidence come up,” Kennedy says.

That confidence boost was a great reminder that there is not just one standard of beauty. More importantly, beauty is more than skin deep — a sentiment echoed by many of the teens that booked a session with Kennedy.

“It’s not all about the looks, but who the person is on the inside,” explains Hannah Luithle. “Personality shines more than your outside features.”

“Feeling confident in the way you look and feel, and being kind to those around you shows how beautiful you are,” adds senior Lauren Steinhauer.