Redefining Beauty

May 14, 2014

A Selfie Exhibit
How do we define beauty?
What is beauty?
In the Redefining Beauty Project,
members of the Medford High
School Community, and the City of
Medford, have been asked to define
what they see as beautiful about
themselves through formal
portraits, selfies, and written
statements.
What is beauty?
Selfies and Portraits
Fazana Afroz
Cassandra Adam
Rayne Allien
Jessica Baccari
Emma Bibbins
I am a bisexual 15 year old girl with a strangely wired brain.
I like carpentry, reading, writing, drawing, knitting, dancing
and sword fighting. My favorite smells are paint, sawdust,
turpentine, earth after a rainstorm and fresh cut grass.

I am beautiful because I embrace my neuroses, polish them
like diamonds and am proud of my scars, mental and physical
because they show that something tried to tear me down and
hurt me, but I built myself back up and moved past them.

~ Emma Delia Meira Bibbins
Sue Bibbins
I'm a 48 year old stay-at-home mother of 2 teens. I
am also disabled since the age of 13. I am beautiful
because ... I am a survivor and have an inner
strength that is unique. I have tattoos and piercings
on my body. Each one represents my strength to
survive and thrive in this body and in the world.

And I will continue.

~ Susan Bibbins
Irene Borges
Gus Bowder -Newton


Da bomb-dizzle-sizzle
I am beautiful because I am not ashamed
of who I am, how I act, or who I will
become.

~Gus Bowder-Newton
Will Bowler
Grace Callahan, Briana Burke,
Caroline Daly
Mark Cangiano
I dont let myself be defined by what
others expect of me.
I am beautiful because
I accept who I am.

~Mark Cangiano
Kelley Carr
Victor Caselato
Lena Chehaiber
I think in my own way I dont want to be caught in
societys perception of a Muslim teenager. I love to
make my friends happy, and try to put everyone
before myself.

I am beautiful because I dont care what other people
say about me. Just because Im Muslim doesnt mean
Im a terrorist. Im on my road to find a path in life,
and the only way to do that is to block all the
negative energy. I want to express myself, in a way
that I love,
not anyone elses opinion.

~Lena Chehaiber
Tenzin Choepak
Julia Coulombe
Ariana Chiarenza
Art crazy, pun loving sophomore who
cant get enough of catsI am beautiful
because Im never afraid to help anyone
no matter who they are because everyone
deserves a chance.

~Ariana Chiarenza
Katie Covino
Emma deRosas
Faith Desinor
I love to laugh with people and eat
Snickers Bars.
I am beautiful because
I am beautiful because
I am beautiful because I am happy being
myself and I wont let anyone take that
from me.

~ Faith Desinor
Courteney DiDomenico
Rebecca DiTucci
Robert Farmer
Daphney Fortune
Andrew Furtado
Ashley Furtado
Mr. Matt Galusi & Family
Dan Georgette
Ms. Elizabeth Gomez with Christian,
Ricky & Caroline

I am beautiful because I am strong, I
have love in my life, and I am happy.
Beauty comes
from the inside.

Mom to Ricky,
Caroline, and Christian

~ Elizabeth Gomez


Cassie Greene
Damari Grossi
I like being different.
Thats who I am.
I am beautiful because I know what I
want, and I can get there because of
who I am.

~Damari Grossi
Amel Hassan
I am beautiful because I am unique and do not
shatter under society's continuous pressure for
achieving the ideal "beauty." Nowadays, beauty is
defined in one way that cannot accommodate
diversity; society's perception of beauty has been
distorted.

As a Muslim, I proudly don the hijab (which
includes head covering and modest dressing). I made
this big decision less than a year ago and
I am happy with the results.
With the hijab, I feel excluded from society's
pressure; I am one, I am unique, I have my own
identity.
Hijab has taught me that beauty comes
from the inside.

You should be judged by your clever mind and your
sweet personality not by how much skin you reveal
or how many coats of makeup you have on. By
wearing the hijab, I make sure I am loved for who
I am on the inside.
~ Amel Hassan
Montana Heise
I am beautiful because I dont try to
be someone Im not and I always
accept myself the
way I am.

~ Montana Heise
Richama Joseph
Robert Keith
Prapti Kharel
Ms. Nelida Lepore & Class
David Lu
Ashley MacDonald
Ms. Michele MacKenzie
My hands are prematurely aged from
years of being submerged in clay and
paint. Yet my hands can show how it is
done. Occasionally, they can create
moments of beauty.
My hands are beautiful.

~ Michele MacKenzie
Mikey McLaughlin
Simona Miller

Im a hardworking person trying to find my way
through life. I try to make the most of every
situation and stand up for what I believe in. I strive
for improvement, self-love, and for acceptance of
who I am.

I am beautiful because Im not afraid to express
myself in any way possible, whether it be in my
clothes, expression, words, or hairstyle, and break
out of the norms of gender and sexuality.
~ Simona Miller
Victoria Miller-Browne
Im a bit different: harsh, strong, but in a
good way.

I am beautiful because I have confidence
in myself and strive to succeed no matter
the color of my skin.

~Victoria Miller-Browne
Kate Morris
Amanda Nagelin
Kelsey Nigro
Chef Dan Noonan
Ms. Emily Pellini & Nora
Dr. John Perella


I am a very fortunate person
with lots of love in my life.
I am beautiful because I am
happy with who I am.

~Dr. John Perella



Uyen Pham
Sarah Pierre
Im just a tall dork, really. Im surrounded by
awesome people and I am friends with some of the
most amazing people in the world, so I dont really
care.

I am beautiful because no one else looks like me.
Im me. Im Sarah. Im beautiful because of how
strong I am. Im beautiful because Im fearless.
I dont care if you knock me down.
Ill just get back up.

~Sarah Pierre
Kharel Prabesh
Melissa Remy
Ms. Heidi Riccio & Ms. Jill Sawyer
Gaelle Rigaud
I dont know who I am .yet.
I am beautiful because all of my
predecessors were, (or) I am.

~Gaelle Rigaud
Nahico Rocha
I am the outcast: the one with so many friends but
doesn't belong to any group. I interact with everyone
because when I feel that I have to make new friends:
that process comes naturally.
I am beautiful because......

I used to be ugly, back when I was alone and had low
self esteem. I worked to change all of that. I grew up
and matured. Now I wear glasses and I have a beard. I
make this look good.

~Nahico Rocha
Ms. Taryn Ross

I am a teacher, sister, daughter, wife, and
mom. I am passionate about my job and my
family as well as the arts and travel. Finding
the beauty in the people and world around me
is very important.

I am beautiful because I care deeply for all
people. I also always try to be better than I
was yesterday.
~Ms. Taryn Ross

Taylor Salamone
Jayant Sharma

I am beautiful because I have confidence
in myself. I dont let words effect me, and
I can control myself. This is my world; I
see it with my eyes. I am beautiful.

~Jayant Sharma

Lia Simonds
Chef Simoni
Mr. Michael Skorker

I am a Spanish teacher and the
Gay/Straight Alliance Advisor at
Medford High School.
I am beautiful because I am not
afraid to be myself.

~ Mr. Michael Skorker
Tenzin Tsega
We laughed a bit too loud, but that never
hurt anyone!

I am beautiful because Im comfortable in my
own skin. I am confident with myself, as well
as confident with what I say, what I wear, and
how I present myself. I am beautiful because I
love beautiful souls.

~ Tsega Tenzin
Chadwick van Schoor


I am Chad and I am a transgender sophomore at
Medford High.

I am beautiful because I have the courage to
believe I am! I believe that being different is the
best part of me.

~Chad van Schoor
Luis Vasquez
Redefining Beauty is a Project
sponsored by the Medford High
School Gay/Straight Alliance &
Tracing Faces

You are beautiful.