BWW Preview: REAL LOVE from Paul Warren and Photographer Jeff An in NYC to Benefit the Pink Agenda

"Real Love'" is a series of 26 portraits and a beauty video of Sports Illustrated model Ashley Graham, Danielle Redman, Julie Henderson, Inga Eiriksdottir and Marquita Pring from Creative Director Paul Warren and Photographer Jeff An. The series of group and individual portrait shots will be displayed at 555 West 25th Street from September 10th through September 25th.

This project began over 20 years ago based on an idea Warren had fostered since high school; to showcase plus size models for their beauty, not their size. Over time, the idea grew into a fully formed project exploring the multifaceted beauty and personalities of these five IMG models and founding members of ALDA; a collective of women who represent beauty without divisions, boundaries or conform to one body shape or size. IMG Model's recent announcement that they would not exclude or label their 'curve' girls, but incorporate them live on the same board as straight size models, added a sense of urgency to the project as Warren and An felt like the moment to actualize their aims of creating something that didn't rely on the body but celebrated the face, was quickly approaching.

"I have black skin and identify as a gay man and felt that I was being put into constrictive boxes and only allowed to navigate those areas. I found that I was considered either extremely desirable or not at all, based on others prescriptive ideas of my skin color's attractiveness. I wasn't being taken in as a complete person, only in parts," Warren comments. "I wanted to express this emotion in a way that was relatable to a wider audience, and in my years as a stylist for the world's most successful models, I saw that curve girls have been marginalized, fetishized, and often subject to biased assumptions in a very similar fashion."

Warren teamed up with An to create a series of images that reflect beauty and not just the body. Six of the images An shot were taken with very rare 8x10 large format film. This film was mostly used in the 1960s and 70s, which are some of the decades this photo series pays homage to.

"Forty years ago, the relationship between the model and photographer was collaborative and both parties played a part in telling the pictures story. If you look back at Richard Avedon's iconic photos of Veruschka, or at David Bailey's relationship with Jean Shrimpton, there was a collaborative approach, instead of the model passively reflecting a point of view," comments An. "With Real Love, we aimed to replicate this approach to reflect the whole of their beauty instead of dissecting their bodies with the lens."

Ivan Bart, President, IMG comments: "The women at Alda are leading us by example, and changing the fashion landscape from within. They are forcing our generation to examine the way in which we identify and appreciate the beauty of diversity."

Each of the 26 photographs in the exhibition will be auctioned with all proceeds donated to Pink Agenda. They are a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization committed to raising money for breast cancer research and care, as well as awareness of the disease among young professionals. For more information on Pink Agenda, visit: http://www.thepinkagenda.org/.

Visit "Real Love" at 555 West 25th Street in New York City. The exhibition is free. For more information visit www.realloveexhibition.com.

Image Credit: Courtesy of "Real Love"

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