nina

The first time Nina stood up to walk on her own, it was to the sound of music. Today she sings in several different choirs and continues to dance; when I first met Nina on day 25 at the birthday party with her family, she was dancing with her whole being, uninhibited by the presence of a stranger. Singing and dancing make Nina feel free and weightless – any stress is quickly forgotten and gives way to rhythm, sound, and movement.

Her sister describes Nina as a sunshine – someone who is always there for you. Nina admits that she herself does not show her emotions very readily in conversation but doesn’t ever shy away from supporting someone she loves or rising to a challenging situation. The duality of her expressiveness and valor are on full display while we shoot; without my prompting her she flows between poses and flaunts her strength with confidence.

Nina tells me how in a previous job she was flatly denied the opportunity to grow into a leadership position. She responded by confronting her manager on the reasons why and asking for what he would need to see in her in order to promote her. Unconvinced that the criteria he laid out was genuine she proceeded to do her job and pursue further education and has since moved on to a different company. Nina is a fighter. She responds to adversity by refusing to give up and searching for ways around the problem: “There is always an open door somewhere.”

[38] June 19, 2021