My education entails a Bachelors of Arts in Child and Youth Care and a Diploma in Early Childhood. This Project: I am Beautiful, all came about after my three and a half year old daughter made a comment, "I am beautiful...only in a dress." I was quite surprised of her comment, and realized even though my daughter's surroundings and influences were well balanced (she plays with dolls and trucks),
somewhere, somehow she had learnt that 'beautiful' was only in a dress. There has been many discussions in the media in regards to beauty and how it affects youth, and teenagers all the way into their adult life. Due to my educational background coupled with my experience in Early Childhood, I am aware of the first five years of a child's life, are the foundation to create knowledge for a child. Why not, create the meaning of 'Beautiful' at a young age? Why not establish the inner meaning of 'Beautiful' at a young age? With the help of a few friends and family, I created this book. Not only the book, but the pictures as well. I wanted to portray 'beautiful' naturally not edited to be perfectly beautiful. Yes, professional pictures are beautiful, no doubt! However, the message I would like to create is "Beautiful is inside you; beautfiul is you, everyday."
