At a time when comparison is constant and self-worth is often measured through screens, photographer and creative Ashley Hugghins of Urban Trend Studios is creating space for teen girls to be seen fully and honestly. Her portrait and storytelling exhibit, I Am More Than, centers on one simple but powerful prompt: I am more than…
The project features twelve teen girls from communities across metro Atlanta, including Roswell, East Cobb, Brookhaven, Milton, and Gainesville. Each girl was photographed and invited to complete the sentence in her own words. The responses were deeply personal, touching on others’ expectations, fears, ambition, insecurities, and what someone thinks of them—revealing how much young girls carry. The project premiered with an in-person exhibit and celebration and can now be seen on her website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
For Hugghins, the inspiration behind the project is deeply personal. “I am doing this to help boost self-esteem and bring awareness that they are more than enough. As someone who has struggled with confidence and low self image my whole life, I feel a push to prevent girls from going through the same, especially when they are exposed to feelings of inadequacy through social media.”
Rather than focusing on achievements or labels, I Am More Than asks girls to reflect inward. “I want to show them that they don’t need to compare themselves to anyone and that their worth is not determined by any outside factors,” Hugghins says.
The project also highlights how early self-belief can shape the future. “The younger they are when they learn to love themselves the better they are able to trust themselves and go after goals they might otherwise shy away from believing they aren't enough.”
She also sees the exhibit as a bridge between families and teen girls. “I would also love for parents to see their daughter in a new way, outside of their abilities and achievements, and strengthen their bond by really hearing what they may not have known about their child and how they feel.”
At its core, I Am More Than reminds girls they get to define themselves.
www.urbantrendstudios.com