We all carry an image of ourselves, carefully assembled and quietly protected. What happens when that image is no longer ours to define? We are constantly scrutinized and reassembled through the perspectives of others. Who are we then? Even as we try to hold onto who we believe we are, our identity is inevitably shaped by the eyes around us.
Endurance is, in many ways, the ongoing struggle to preserve our sense of self. In a world where opinions are constant and expectations are ever-changing, it becomes increasingly difficult to hold onto our own perspective. As life moves forward, outside influences begin to shape not only how we see ourselves, but what we believe about who we are. Our self-image evolves with time, experience, and the people we encounter. While different perspectives help us grow and define our identity, much of our self-concept is built through those around us. So the question remains; what is truly our own, and what has been imposed upon us by the perceptions of others?
The sentiment of imposter syndrome reinforces the belief that we either become who others see us as or struggle to believe in ourselves at all. It is a symptom of self-confidence dissolving under scrutiny. Through the eyes of others, every flaw, every contradiction, and every carefully edited edge of our being is magnified until the version we tried to control begins to slip. Our identity flickers, uncertain, distorted, and perpetually in negotiation within our own minds. Don’t let others define you through these filtered illusions.
Know who you are, and become the strongest version of yourself.
Creative Direction and Words by Gianna Schwartz
Photography by Jenna Mitsdarfer
Photography Assist by Ari Carranza
Production Design by Gianna Schwartz
Styling by Ari Sancho & Gianna Schwartz
Talent by Regan Hann & Illyah Housley