Irina Cheremisina - THIN.NOT.BEAUTIFUL

In a world where beauty ideals are constantly shifting, thinness is often celebrated—until it isn’t. This photographic project confronts the paradoxical and often harmful standards imposed on women’s bodies, particularly those who fall on the slender end of the spectrum.

Through a series of visual works, I document and interpret real phrases directed at me over the years—remarks like “Skin and bones!”, “Your face looks sunken”, “Get tested! Something is clearly wrong with you!”, “You’d be beautiful if you gained some weight.” Each image is a reflection of these unsolicited comments, which reduce a person’s appearance to a subject of public discussion and criticism.

This project is not just about being thin—it’s about being scrutinized, misunderstood, and body-shamed. It’s about the emotional toll of constantly being told how to exist, how to look, and how to change.

By bringing these statements out of the shadows of memory and into visual form, I aim to shed light on a rarely acknowledged side of body shaming. I invite viewers to question the toxic narratives we’ve internalized about beauty, and to see individuality—rather than conformity—as the most authentic expression of self.

Ultimately, this work is a reclaiming of voice, body, and identity. It is a reminder that every body tells a different story, and every woman holds a unique truth worth seeing and honouring.