About the narrative:
"Loving Me is Like Coveting a Felicia Doll" is a visual story crafted with empathy and love. It challenges the viewer to recognize the narratives we often dismiss as mere insecurities, inviting them to question the norms that perpetuate the marginalization of blackness. In this series, we follow a black girl in her twenties as she navigates parallel lives. One version of her becomes the embodiment of the "perfect" black girl—an idealization that is stifling and suffocating. In contrast, the second version of our protagonist embraces her authenticity and rejects the expectations and judgments that attempt to stifle her. Despite this, it's evident from the books in her apartment that she is aware of how the world views her.
By using the getting ready routine, this project explores the multitude of choices, decisions, and acceptance of criticism that black girls face outside of their comfort zone. Each photo captures a moment of curation, where she chooses between conformity and self-expression. Regardless, both versions embody the resilience and elegance it takes to navigate this world as a black girl.
Captions are from Sarah Bahbah.
