Duckling

Satin blouse, Forever 21. Skirt, from my USMC Dress Blues uniform. Maryjanes, Two Lips. Belt, Xhilaration. Feathered hair clip, made it myself.


I spent most of adolescence and beyond as an “ugly duckling.” Whether others saw me that way, I can’t be sure, but I thought myself unattractive. For a few years, I refused to smile in photos at all. Instead, I made funny faces so I wouldn’t have to face my own painful attempt at prettiness. I still remember the first time I saw a photo of myself I liked, when I was nearly 22. At first, I thought it was a picture of my pretty younger sister. Then I realized it was me and that I’d finally grown into my funny features. Do I think myself a swan now? No, but I’m certainly better feathered.

Still making faces at the camera

Detail of the feathered clip I made with a hairdresser’s clip, craft feathers, and a glue gun