Pretty Hurts

‘Pretty Hurts’ is a constructed photo series that follows the character Stacey through her everyday rituals, and seeks to explore society’s obsession with beauty, consumerism and outward appearances. Stacey is a caricature of the several facets concerned with body image expectations, and the stereotypes placed upon women. ‘Pretty Hurts’ is styled in a way that is relatable, yet not instantly recognisable - it’s an amalgamation of eras which is intended to prompt the question: have female body image issues really improved throughout the decades? Personal preference and taste may change, but the inherent pressure and desire to be aesthetically pleasing remains. All styling, set design and prop design was undertaken by myself.