I’ve been using photography as a tool to explore the development of female identity since I was a teenage girl myself. Fifteen years have passed and I’m still exploring. This past year, with the intention of producing a photography book on the subject, I’ve started to document contemporary American female rites of passage. I began with Quinceañeras, the elaborate 15th birthday celebrations for Catholic girls of Latin American descent. These events showcase femininity taken to its extreme; the girls wear Cinderella-type dresses and tiaras, and are given a ceremonial last doll. Family gathers to watch as the Quinceañera changes from flats to high heels, signifying the transition from girl to woman. In years past, this celebration served as the public presentation of a girl’s readiness for marriage. For a photographer interested in exploring all of the trappings of femininity as I am, this subject matter is a endlessly rewarding.
