Self Portrait without Apology

The ‘selfie’ era celebrates self-expression, yet for many in my culture, self-portraiture clashes with ingrained critiques of appearance—height, weight, or skin tone—masked as familial concern. My artwork reclaims the self-portrait as an act of defiance, transforming scrutiny into empowerment. By framing my image unapologetically, I challenge the norms that dictate how we see ourselves and others. In a world obsessed with curated perfection, this piece asserts that true self-representation begins with rejecting imposed shame and embracing identity on one’s own terms.