On Stage With MoeBetta
After suffering through a lonely childhood, Monique strives to provide a different experience for her five children in a warm nurturing environment where she is a strong presence. After battling depression and misfortune, the birth of her children motivated her to make positive changes. After drifting through abusive relationships, she found stability in her fiancé, Brian. Monique’s story emphasizes learning to overcome adversity. She faced many challenges as a single mother including providing food and shelter, receiving no financial support from her children’s biological fathers. Monique has made many difficult decisions including severing relations with the father of two of her children, one in jail and the other battling substance abuse. Although he is not their biological father, Brian is a strong father figure and role model for her children.
Over the past few months, I have dedicated my time to capturing the story of Monique and her family The images tell the story of Monique, her struggles, and how rap music has become such an influential part of her life. Photographing Monique in various environments ranging from performances to spending time with her and her family at their home has allowed me to integrate myself into their environment allowing the family to feel comfortable with my presence. Â
