Krystal

I met Krystal on a Saturday afternoon in the Tonto National Forest desert. She was a friend of my friend, coming along to participate in a concept photoshoot I had planned. I had only spoken to her via text to let her know what my vision and mission was for the photoshoot, to explore and unearth the beauty and strength of women, but even with such limited information and a whole lot of blind trust she agreed to meet up with us.

I spent approximately four hours with Krystal but she left me marked. The first thing I noticed was her smile, so warm and welcoming. She has a throw your head back kind of laugh, with sound that fills the space. Her eyes, well there’s depth in them…I could see so much joy but I also saw a deep well of emotion that was raw. She’s incredibly adventurous, her Instagram is filled with pictures of her kayaking or rock climbing (like literally scaling ridiculous rock walls!). She’s beautiful and tender, fun and feisty, strong and sensitive!

So, in her own words, I give you Krystal (36)…

What does it mean to be a woman?

I think that being a woman means having as much strength as a man but bringing with it a certain delicate grace in compliment to the opposite. Being a woman is also the power of creation, the allure of beauty, and the innate gift of nurture. To be a woman at full strength is to be capable of creating and cultivating wonderful things from the soul.

What do you like about being a woman?

Something I enjoy about being a woman is the power of my femininity. To be strong and yet to do it in such a soft and graceful way, to be delicate but not fragile, to have the power to captivate with allure but also the self restraint to not abuse these gifts, rather to have the ability to freely share these gifts in supporting and encouraging others, empowering myself, and being able to create simply for self expression or for world changing all in one life.

What does it mean to be strong?

I think strength has many facets. I think strength is feeling strong emotion and not suppressing it. I think strength is acknowledging your fears, choosing when to face them, and being vulnerable within their existence. I think strength is committing to growing as a person for life, conquering the inner and outer challenges that come along with that commitment, and then also knowing when to rest and allow grace, help, and healing to take over. Strength is knowing what you are good at and not being afraid to share that gift with others.

What makes YOU strong?

My resilience. I am like a willow tree and I have bent under wild, furious, driving weather, but I have not broken. And when the storms have passed, I use my resilience to commit to another season of introspection and personal growth. I understand that good and bad experiences can be learned from and that matters. My faith also makes me strong and I am not afraid to fight on a spiritual level for those I love.

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty. Sad Poetry. Vibrant Saturation. A peaceful breeze on a warm day. The vastness of the stars and how small they make me feel. The complimentary balance of feminine softness in partnership with masculine hardness. A smile of pure joy when the owner is unaware they are noticed. And very small details, I think the nuances can add a subtle deepness and meaning to the simplest expressions of self.

Where does beauty come from?

Truly from within, rushing outward but for me also from without shining inward. I see and receive beauty when others offer themselves with love and vulnerability. I receive beauty with my senses indulgent. And sometimes I exude it when I allow myself to share the love and energy I have within to the world.

What makes YOU beautiful?

Well, my smile which I think is warm and soft and welcoming. My eyes which are bright and also soft. My eclectic sense of taste, a love for bright colors, nostalgic experiences, naturalistic expressions. The moments when I have found a balance within and without and am capable of sharing that healthy, happy, joyful energy with others. My playful innate eunoia. :)

Can women be powerful?

Very much so. Again the gift of creation is not just the birthing of life, although this is an incredible ability but also the natural capacity to breathe life into experiences, ideas, cultures, and evolutions all with feminine style.

What does a powerful woman look like?

Women especially hold the power of influence, I think best demonstrated through soft and nurturing persuasion, to make others feel seen and to show our own power without using physical force but with observation, invitation, and fearless action.

How do we educate others about the strength, power, and beauty of women?

By SHOWING up. Step out, be bold, be vulnerable, speak up, don’t hide in the background, believe you are worthy and deserving of more, of the best, be a role model, and influence, a defender of justice, and internalize your self worth and realize you are fearfully, powerfully, wonderfully made, and don’t be afraid to share your gifts with others.