BIO
New York-based photographer
Julia Comita and makeup artist
Brenna Drury have combined forces to co-creative direct a new photo series entitled
Prim-n-Poppin. Challenging outdated, non-inclusive beauty standards, Prim-n-Poppin takes cringe-worthy beauty advertisements from the 70s and remakes them with a diverse cast of models and updated copy. Taking aim at antiquated beauty ads of the past that featured predominantly white, thin and cis-female models, Prim-N-Poppin highlights models from a wide variety of racial backgrounds and identities including queer, transgender, and non-binary, as well as talent from the body modification, vitiligo and body positive communities. The result is a fresh, inclusive and fun campaign that not only reinterprets classic beauty advertisements through a modern lens, but also reflects Drury and Comita’s desire to embrace the cheese and charm of the period while showcasing the diversity that was missing at the time.
“Julia and I asked ourselves, ‘what would the future look like today if these advertisements had been the standard of the past?’ As creatives, we want to challenge the industry to take responsibility for their marketing and diversify their talent pool,” explained Drury. One of the models,
Maria Rivera, continues, “When I was younger, to be part of the beauty world was merely only a dream for me. For me it represents all the young transgenders’ dreams of having freedom to choose, enjoy and live their lives, with their preferred lifestyle and sexual preferences, without any prejudice or need to fit the society’s mold and norms.”
Check out Prim-n-Poppin now
HERE, alongside interviews with the talent, as well as curated lists of beauty brands, modeling agencies and beauty education groups that champion diversity and inclusivity with a positive message.
Comita and Drury plan to expand the series soon, representing and celebrating models of all ages, abilities, gender expressions, backgrounds, body shapes and more. Stay tuned for more here:
www.prim-poppin.com.
