In recent months we’ve witnessed a new declaration of Black Power transmitted on television and social media. Coinciding with Black History month there have been uprisings all over the world and while I was in both New York and Montreal,
I have never seen Montreal as excited about MELANIN as ever before.
There is a new wave sweeping through the city (Montreal) and its fruitfulness is manifesting itself creatively and strategically.
Yesterday, I was present at an epic photoshoot; with the objective of displaying Montreal’s Melanin beauties in different shades. The concept is one that resonates loud:
“the different shades of melanin”.
RACHELLE & FARAH: AND THE MODELS BEHIND THE PHOTOSHOOT
The idea of the photoshoot was dreamed up by Rachelle of Rachelle A Photography, a locally based Montreal photographer and Farah Innocent, a Natural Hair Specialist trained in Atlanta and revolutionizing the natural hair scene in Montreal.
Their cast of models included two exceptional models: Patricia and Nadia – Patricia a model who proudly wears vitiligo and Nadia who proudly models albino.
The official list of models who supported this project are powerful women who are quietly impacting the Community in their own reign:
Shaina Voltaire, Jowin Mazile, Judelyne Borgelin, Patricia BelFenm, Sephora Manigat, Gabriella Kinte, Nadia Aristyl, Alexandra Dorcelus aka Sunshine and Natasha Ant.
SUPPORTING CAST MEMBERS OF #MTLEBENE
Some of the top local bloggers, photographers and makeup artists came out to support #mtlebene, message below from Rachelle:
Un supercalifragilisticexpialidocious MERCI a toute les super belle femme qui ont participer au projet hier ! We had a rough start, vous êtes rester patientes et ca je sais pas comment vous en remercier !!!. A super special et hors de prix thank you a ma super team : Farah Innocent, Empereur Joël Nawej et Yanissa Gp i mean …faut creer des mots pour dire a quel point yall were on point ! Alexie Francois , Edwidge et Tahisha , vos makes up skillz sont a 100 (somone can tag them). Thank you Jessica ( someone can tag her) for the food, nou tap mouri si ou pat la, you the real MVP.
Nkosi Sms Boss Phanord, Philippe Gassant and Petrona Jacqueline Joseph thank you for you awesooomme presence !
Thank you, a BIG thank you at Glamour Ethnik for the headwrap !! And of course …a big thank you at myself cause i’m awesone. Cest mon premier projet de ce type mais cest pas le dernier. Yall aint done seein’ that melanin shit ! #ASE ! – Rachelle A. Photographie
Written by: @petronajoseph_