ENTRY DESCRIPTION
Suri women are incredibly strong. Living in one of them most isolated and harsh environments in the world, they look after large families, manage water, food and house repairs, and look after the goats and cows which constitute a family’s wealth. Their adornment too reflects their strength – body scarring and modification in the form of lip-plates are considered a source of beauty, prestige and self-expression. From a small incision made when they are girls, the lip is gradually stretched to accommodate ever larger clay disks over time. They also use flowers, river clay, grass, and unusual found objects – in this portrait, a set of cow horns - in striking displays for special occasions. Knowing how much responsibilities they have, its always a privilege to be able to take their portrait.

AUTHOR
Natalia is a photographer and content producer. For the last 15 years she has documented social and environmental issues for the United Nations, the Earth Institute at Columbia University, and various development and wildlife conservation NGO’s through photography, text, and video.

Her work has taken her from her home in Australia to Europe, Central America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and, finally, Africa, where she has been based in Kenya for the last ten years.

A former radio presenter and producer for SBS Australia, Natalia studied media and communications at the University of NSW, where she specialised in journalism and audio-visual production.

She has collaborated on a range of media projects with organisations including: UNEP, UNOCHA, UNDP, UN - WTO, Oxfam, World Vision, Nutrition International, CNN, MSNBC, Deutsche Welle, Daily Telegraph (UK), Columbia University, Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation, Unilever, Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

She never travels anywhere without her camera and coffee-making kit.

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