Roswell's Kate T. Parker is a mother, wife, Ironman, New York Times bestselling author, and professional photographer who photographs both personal projects and commercial work for her clients, which include REI, Verizon, Athleta, and American Express.
Her 2017 national bestselling book Strong is the New Pretty, adapted from her wildly successful photography series, garnered outstanding media attention and support from the Spice Girls, David Beckham, Drew Barrymore, Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, and Emma Watson. The book is a gorgeous and inspiring photographic celebration of girls being themselves—fearless, silly, wild, stubborn, proud, and fierce. It challenges the idea of what it means to be feminine and shows us beauty comes not from how you look, but from being true to yourself. It also inspired Kate to launch a philanthropic arm of SITNP, partnering with Girls on the Run, Girl Up, The Arthur Blank Family Foundation, Glam4Good, Disney and The Bully Project to invest in girls’ health and education.
Now Kate turns her lens to women and girls speaking out and speaking up in FORCE OF NATURE: A Celebration of Girls and Women Raising Their Voices. Filled with 150 full-color and black-and-white images of diverse subjects from all over the country who find, use, amplify, and raise their voices for themselves and the causes they’re passionate about. It celebrates the power of women and girls and seeks to inspire others to raise their voices.
In a world where women are being suppressed and their rights stripped away, Kate’s portraits of mothers, daughters, sisters, nurses, coaches, and classmates uplift and empower with the message that everyone has a voice, and everyone’s voice matters no matter its source or volume. Meet Zoe, 10, CEO of her own company that makes dolls who have curly hair just like her; Elizabeth, age 25, who is affected by non-speaking autism and gave her college valedictory address through her text-to-speech device; and Adi, age 12, who used her voice to create change in the way sports stores merchandise and recognize female athletes and gear.
“As a woman and a mother to two girls, I have seen how the world tries to fit us into narrow categories with low expectations,” says Kate. “I wanted the opposite—I wanted to hear girls’ and women’s voices shouting from the rooftops. After photographing, interviewing, and showcasing thousands of people over my career, I saw firsthand how one voice can affect change. Our girls have the power to change their world and the world. They just need to fully realize it.”
Kate T. Parker’s 2017 blockbuster bestseller Strong Is The New Pretty struck a chord throughout the nation and beyond.