“ I feel awakened”: Outdoor Boudoir with Sharlene

Meet Sharlene. Sharlene is beautiful and kind and strong and generous. We had a fabulous outdoor boudoir session this fall in Madison, Wisconsin.

As Sharlene highlights in her answers below, she feels like black skin is undervalued in our culture. I’m white so I don’t know what it feels like but I sure can see what she is talking about. With all the police shootings, how few black women and men are in the media, how skinny white girls still seem to be the standard in beauty magazines. It’s pretty clear to me- black skin is cruelly, needlessly, and systemically undervalued. The impact cannot be understated. Every woman I’ve met has some issues with her body. Now add in systematic racism with unrealistic beauty standards and we get a lot of fuckery to deal with. I can’t pretend to understand how hard it must be to walk through this world as a black woman- to stay strong and confident when our culture is so toxic and dangerous to black bodies. But I can recognize these problems and say, loud and clear- HOLY SHIT BLACK SKIN IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!! Look at these photos - everyone can see that! Black women's beauty and grace are inspiring and their voices need to be heard and their beautiful bodies represented and celebrated. Thank you to Sharlene for adding your beauty to the world and for letting me share it here.

What interested you in boudoir? 

One day I stumbled upon a friend’s boudoir photos that she posted on Facebook. I was shocked! Not shocked that she had boudoir photos taken, but shocked that she had the courage and bravery to show her body like that. I was envious of her beauty and the way she looked. As I learned more about the photos, I also found out about Maureen’s photography. I called her up one day and booked a session. After I did, I freaked out! I was thinking: how can I get in shape as quickly as possible? Wondering if I was pretty enough to be on camera and to be seen by others. I was raised in a culture where black-skinned was less beautiful- you had to be light-skinned to be considered beautiful. 

How does your favorite photo from your session make you feel?

I feel awakened, like- is this really me? Is that the way I’m viewed by others (beautiful, strong and black)?! I look at the photos and tell myself that I am who I am. It make me stronger and more confident as the days go by.

What would you say to a woman who doesn't think she is beautiful enough to be photographed?

I would say to them that “you are beautiful just the way you are”. I would tell them to consider a boudoir photo shoot and look at themselves underneath all these man-made clothes. Take a deep breath and accept yourself and love yourself for who you are.

What are your reflections on “beauty” in our culture?

Black women in general are brainwashed that people are not beautiful unless they are white with long straight hair. That we are not beautiful if our noses are not straight or if our butts are too round and big, or our breasts are too large or sagging, too many stretch marks or we are too tall or too short. Women in my culture do not have a fighting chance to love themselves if we cannot change this! That is why I really wanted my photo taken and to be shared.

What are your hopes for the next generation of women? What advice would you give to them?

I am hoping that we as women can acknowledge our beauty and power as women, so we are able to pass that strength on to the next generation of women. It all starts with the way see ourselves and not how our brains were molded by others.

What would you tell your 16-year-old self if you could meet her now?

I would tell myself: you are a strong beautiful black young lady and you don’t need to straighten your hair with chemicals or use fading cream on your skin to be seen as a beautiful person. You are beautiful just they way you are! 

What do you love most about being a woman?

I love being a woman because we are strong human beings! We are mentally and physically capable of handling tough situations and then walking away unbroken. We can use this strength to change things for our society, for our kids, and to inspire others. For those of us who are or will become mothers, we have so much power in that role too. We’re able to raise strong young children when we let go of all the “shoulds” that have been thrown at us about how women should look and act. We carry ourselves through the world in a strong way and it makes the next woman all the stronger, it is contagious and beautiful.