Beauty in Diversity

"As a model of color, I often look for my ethnic brothers and sisters and find far too few. While there has been some progress away from the marginalization and tokenism of brown and black models, I long to see more, everywhere and on every empowering platform. When beauty is formed through the pressures of adversity and oppression, a unique depth and character emerges,” says Jessica Hamilton, a Latina, Native American and Black model featured in this styled shoot.

The team collaborated to highlight the beauty of diversity with elements of heritage interwoven in some of the details, the powerful scenes captured were organized in part by recent grad and wedding planner Alex Gaynor.

Camano Island provided a brilliant backdrop of serene forest and beachside sparkle, with views of Saratoga Passage. The Island was once part of the Snohomish Tribe’s ancestral lands, used for hunting, fishing, and clamming during the summer. The route from Seattle to the island is also home to many indigenously-owned casinos and reservations.

Emma Studley, the wedding photographer, captured Jessica’s elegance in the natural light as she posed in an exquisite two-piece Sandra dress created by , an Israeli designer, and provided by . The bride looked radiant in the warm light as the diaphanous gown glowed around her. The look was complete with her stylish blonde hair and bold makeup, perfected by Latina stylist Lauren Brittany from .