Empowerment Studio’s annual selfies project kicks off Monday
Empowerment Studio group shot.
Pride Month celebrations have popped up across the Kansas City area all month, and The Empowerment Studio created a unique way to celebrate remotely. The #SelfietoSelfLove challenge is an online community that celebrates diversity, acceptance, and self-love. Beginning June 24 and ending June 28, participants will submit selfies to a private Facebook group. Each day has a theme centered around self-love, which the prompt announced through a morning email.
The Empowerment Studio is a KC boudoir photography studio that focuses on helping people embrace their beauty and self authentically.
“As a queer-owned business, inclusivity and acceptance are at the heart of everything we do,” says The Empowerment Studio’s founder Kinzie Elizabeth, “Pride Month is a time for us to not only celebrate our LGBTQ community but also reaffirm our commitment to providing a space where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered.”
Though people may be hesitant to join or question the impact a simple selfie could make, previous participant testimonies are positive. One from a busy mom says, “I was very surprised how transformative it was to participate in the challenge. It sounds like a silly thing, but taking a few minutes each day to complete the challenge connected me to my body and my self-love in a way I had never experienced before.”
Some found more confidence in their physical appearance through the selfies, and others found emotional empowerment through the community. The selfies aren’t the only aspect of this challenge. Participants get daily love letters, encouragement, and comments from other participants.
“One woman learned to see her strong, broad shoulders as something to be proud of. Another person got through a panic attack months after the challenge ended because she had practiced taking up space and asking for her needs to be met with the Empowerment Studio,” says Elizabeth.
Joining is completely free. You can sign up on the website.
