a small, quiet town with a close-knit community, where everyone knows everyone.

a bustling city filled with diverse people, cultures, and lifestyles.

Aria's apartment, filled with mirrors, lights, and makeup of all shades.

a college campus buzzing with students of all backgrounds and ethnicities.

a small town, unchanged by time, where old beliefs still persist.

the same small town, but with a subtle change in the air.

Skin Deep

A young woman learns to love her skin after a long journey of self-acceptance and empowerment.

nemcclellan

a woman with a backpack on a street corner with a brick sidewalk and buildings in the background, with a woman with a backpack on the street corner, photorealism, a hyperrealistic painting, Constance Gordon-Cumming, ultra realistic digital art

Layla, a young woman with a dark complexion, had always felt out of place in her small town, struggling to accept her skin color.

a woman standing on a street corner with a handbag on her shoulder and people walking on the sidewalk, photorealism, a hyperrealistic painting, Constance Gordon-Cumming, ultra realistic digital art

Mrs. Thompson, the town's beauty queen, often made remarks about Layla's complexion, making her feel insecure.

two women standing next to each other on a city street with tall buildings in the background and people walking on the sidewalk, photorealism, a hyperrealistic painting, Artgerm, highly detailed digital painting

Upon moving to the city for college, Layla met Aria, a confident young woman who embraced her individuality.

two women walking down a street with a suitcase in hand and a man walking behind them with a backpack, american barbizon school, a stock photo, Chris LaBrooy, promotional image

Aria, noticing Layla's discomfort with her own skin, decided to help her friend see the beauty in diversity.

a woman holding a makeup set in a store with lights in the background and a mirror behind her that has a woman's face and a necklace on it, harlem renaissance, a stock photo, Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy, portrait photography

Aria took Layla to her apartment, showing her how makeup could be used to enhance her natural beauty, not hide it.

a woman standing in front of a mirror with a makeup brush in her hand and a mirror with lights behind her, shock art, a renaissance painting, Barbara Greg, promotional image

Aria taught Layla that beauty is not about conforming to societal standards, but about expressing oneself.

a group of people walking down a street next to each other on a sunny day with trees in the background, harlem renaissance, a stock photo, Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy, promotional image

Layla started to embrace her skin, feeling more comfortable and confident around others.

a group of people standing in a crowd of people with a woman with curly hair and a backpack on, harlem renaissance, a hyperrealistic painting, Constance Gordon-Cumming, ultra realistic illustration

Her journey of self-acceptance inspired many others on campus to embrace their individuality.

a woman in a suit and tie standing in front of a crowd of people on a street corner with a building in the background, neoism, a poster, Constance Gordon-Cumming, promotional image

Returning to her hometown after graduation, Layla was met with the same remarks from Mrs. Thompson.

a woman standing on a street with a brick building in the background and a car parked on the side of the street, harlem renaissance, a character portrait, Constance Gordon-Cumming, promotional image

But this time, Layla stood up for herself, unafraid to challenge the town's narrow-minded beauty standards.

a woman with a braid standing in front of a crowd of people in a town square with a clock tower, american realism, a character portrait, Constance Gordon-Cumming, j. c. leyendecker 8 k

Layla's confidence sparked a change in the town, encouraging others to question their long-held beliefs.

a woman with a brown jacket and a necklace on a street corner with people walking around and shops on the sidewalk, photorealism, a hyperrealistic painting, Constance Gordon-Cumming, highly detailed digital painting

And so, Layla's journey of self-acceptance led not only to her personal growth but also to the empowerment of her community.

Upgrade