What do you see when you look in the mirror?

This question was posed to 63 women on the set of John Legend‘s most recent music video “You & I (Nobody In The World).” Networked Feminism has become extremely prominent in today’s media, with music video’s like Colbie Cailat‘s “Try” and commercial campaigns like Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty generating conversations about beauty and societies beauty standards across all social media platforms.

This music video, however, stands apart, featuring transgender Emmy Nominee Laverne Cox in an especially vulnerable moment, taking off her makeup at a vanity. She appears alongside a group of diverse individuals championing their own unique brand of beauty. They are not selling products to viewers, but their own stories, their own struggles, their own ideals. 

These woman reveal themselves in a documentary entitled “When I Look In The Mirror”–“a behind the scenes exploration of each woman’s thoughts and insights as they take a deep look into the mirror and reflect on themselves and their experiences.” Filmmakers and collaborators stated, “we conducted dozens of interviews over the course of twelve days to cultivate this collection of voices. From cancer survivors to a middle schooler facing bullying, each woman’s answer is indicative of her unique life experiences. Through interview, vérité filming, and staged recreations, this short documentary will deeply explore female self-image, self-judgment, and ultimately, self-love.”

Of course, this video has stimulated some controversy among viewers, but the overall support for Legend’s inclusive and inspiring video and project is overwhelming. Above all things, this music video was created to inspire viewers to support #OperationGirl, “a fundraising campaign for charities focused on women and girls.” John Legend has utilized his celebrity status in an amazing way, as a platform to adovocate his philanthropic endeavors. 

Legend’s video is a body positive message to women of every ethnicity, race, age, size and color, which emphasizes what our moms have been telling us all along, we are beautiful.

[Via The Independent]

-Taylor Rae Almonte (@tayloralmonte)

 

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