A series of photographs spoofing the often racy advertisements from clothing retailer American Apparel is questioning traditional ideas of beauty in a most provocative way.
The photos are of Jes Sachse, a 25-year-old Canadian college student with a rare genetic condition known as Freeman-Sheldon syndrome. She has unique facial features, a curved spine and her right leg is a bit shorter than her left, but Sachse is not lacking in attitude.
The series dubbed “American Able” includes 13 recreations of actual American Apparel ads. In one called “Tight,” Sachse appears in a leotard to strut her stuff before an oversized window. In another ad called “Workout,” Sachse is shown wearing nothing more than a headband and green shorts.
The work produced by Sachse’s friend, photographer Holly Norris, 21, is appearing in Toronto subway stations this month on more than 270 electronic screens as part of a photography festival.
“What I hope comes of this is that people can view disability differently and see that people with disabilities are sexual,” Sachse says. “So many people are trying to come to my aid and protect me from being exploited and they want to prevent disabled people from living their lives.”
The project began nearly two years ago as an assignment for a women and popular culture class that Norris was taking as an undergraduate at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. Norris thought it would be fun to spoof American Apparel advertising, because the company claims that models in its print ads are just normal, everyday girls, though they all seem to share similar body types.
“This idea of who is beautiful and what’s sexy that we see in the media all the time isn’t necessarily what beauty is to me or to you,” says Norris, who received permission from American Apparel to display the work publicly.
As a child, Sachse says she was taught to deny that she was different. But over the years she instead developed pride in her body. Most of the clothing used in the photos actually belongs to Sachse who says she likes to dress stylishly.
“I look confident in the photos and I look just how I feel about the work, about the idea, about my body,” she says.
This is an awesome article, and I am so glad to see inclusion at its finest- simply being treated the same as everyone else. Confidence is Sexy on everyone who wears it, and Jes wears it well! My hats off to Jes and her friend Holly, who are in my opinion, artistic and social geniuses! :)
Pretty COOL Sachse. – I believe a person is better by just being- “YOU”. Go Girl. – Your pics were inspiring, honest, and also just pretty neat. – Joe
This could be a way to show people that disabled people want to explore their sexuality just as well as they do. I know I sure would love to.
Disability is not sexy and neither is ability. However, there are sexy people with disabilities, and Jes is an example. Good for her for being confident about her ability and not focusing just on her perceived disability!
Sachse, you are fighting for all those who are not like everybody else. What great parents you have to
raise you as “normal” You are beautiful and it shows in every picture. You are inspring and look a lot nicer
than some of those skinny looking same models we see on a regular basis..
Sachse, you are beautiful. I think society’s idea of what constitutes as ‘sexy’ is skewed. It doesn’t reflect the diversity of the women who exist.
I blogged about this topic recently.
More work like this needs to be done in order to destigmatize all things disability! It is about time that people are able to recognize the uniqueness and beauty that comes from a variety of disabilities. Bravo!
A special thank you to Holly Norris for creating this feature art. Ms. Sachse is a beautiful example of how courage, confidence and individualism outrank elitism, sameness, and following the crowd. Art of this nature goes a long way in reducing stigma by demonstrating to the general public that individuals with disabilities often have other abilities that shine when encouraged.
Fabulous photos!
No disabilty cannot be sexy: it is in and of itself strictly an abstract concept; now a person with a disability can certainly be sexy, but as a person with a disability, I find abstract fetishism of disability as a universally applied concept bothersome on a personal level. This is mainly an issue with the headline, and less so for the story’s actual subject, whom I applaud. I know I wish I felt more sexy in front of a camera sometimes, self-assurance outside of a camera lens is hard to capture when one is terrible at responding to the ‘Everybody smile for the camera’ call…..I think I’m damn awesome in the mirror, possibly having a stroke in most every photo!
Sachse, I think you look fabulous and am inspired by your confidence and attitude. You go girl! Beautiful pics Holly!
i can simply say good for her she obviously doesnt suffer from the self-esteem issues i do as well as the anxiety and chronic nervousness especially central to issues such as sexuality and celebrating diversity, perhaps societies commonly held notions of what is sexy and what isnt could do with some tinkering
Amazing! I recently began dating a man who is a C5-C6 incomplete quadriplegic. I think he is incredibly sexy! Whenever I get near him, I just want to cuddle with him! It isn’t his disability that makes him sexy but him!
Absolutely amazing!
You go girl, that is creation at its best. Don’t ever believe otherwise.
Sachse, You are beautiful, you go girl!
Hey Jess and Holly, I’ve taken people with every disability imaginable for a fun surfing experience for over twenty six years. I’ve seen it all and nothing is more important than personality and attitude. If we can get the so called beautiful people on the beaches of Australia to accept everyone for having a go, not what they look like, then you girls have it all.
Next time your in Australia, I’d love to take you surfing…
LOVE IT!
This is great, not just for women with physical disabilites but for all women and young girls. And also for our communities. We tell each other what beauty is, it’s time we start showing, teaching and
re-educating the public.
I think you should do a calendar and posters.
She is stlyish. At first I thought expoltive, but the look on her face says shes hamming it up. Also, its all expoltive- what does bare breast have to do with selling overpriced copycat 80s track shorts. A tear came to my eye because she is luving her life free
Several years ago my son invited me to a Christmas potluck at the local community college where he worked with disabled students in the physical education department. He told me to bring my camera so I could take pictures. All the students were happy to meet his mom and posed happily for the pictures I took. I am not a professional photographer, but those were the best pictures I have even taken. I realized later it was due to these people being recognized as valuable and as people we wanted pictures of. That is not very common in our Hollywood style culture. So kudos to you Jes for challenging the belief about what is beautiful or sexy!
This is encouraging, not only for p/w/d, but for anyone who has a body-type that doesn’t fit the current standards. Those of us labelled as ‘too fat’ or ‘too thin’, or ‘too anything’, can take heart in looking at this happy, sexy, confident, young woman!
As much as I applaud Sachse for her confidence, I think these pictures will not just do what they are suppos to do. Too many people are ignorant when it comes to accepting “different”. I can see those people already making fun of Sachse, and it personally hurts me too.
I grew up being overweight and people around me sure let me feel it. I didn’t give up and figured out that as long as I loved myself others would feel the same way, for the most part. I shocked people around me too just like Sachse, and some did accept me, but not all.
In recent years a movie came out with a very talented young black actress who is very overweight, and different. She was invited to the Oprah show and praised for her marvouless work as “Precious”. A few days later a certain well known radio authority made right away fun about her. Listening to this radio show I teared up since I realized no matter how good, how talented, how pretty, and how confident someone is there will always be those who make fun of “different”. Often these people won’t stop at just making fun, they become creative and really hurtful. I pray Sachse has the personal strength to let it roll of her back!
awesome. as it should be.
You are the epitome of sexiness…because you are not afraid to explore it. I am a recent amputee and still embarrassed to show myself to anyone naked and still do not consider myself sexy. I know that will change in time, so maybe it’s good I saw this article. Keep it up! I love it!
Work it girl!
Hello Jes,
You look so great! Really cute and totally confident.
Susan
Sexy is being confident and comfortable in our own skin. Jes is fabulous, confident, and sexy.
Wow…I would never have the guts to do anything like that (and I have a body type that is seen as stereotypically desirable). She looks so happy and confident, not to mention beautiful. I’ve always been a sucker for strong, tattooed women though!
This is a wonderful article! She is pretty and confident…I like that in a woman. This is inspiring!
xoxo,
Liam James Payne (yes it is really me from One Direction!)
Beauty is absolutely NOT only what you see on the outside…it comes from within and the fact that you have the confidence, the courage and rocketed self esteem, tells everyone volumes about your character, your personality and your inner beauty….you are beautiful to me all the way…
I think this girl has amazing legs, first of all. Secondly, she’s got attitude to spare, and good for her. Unfortunately, fetishist will gravitate towards these pictures, and they will be mocked and misused. Objectification of women, whether able or disabled, fat or thin, pretty or not pretty only creates more trouble for women, whoever they are. You can be disabled with barely a physical trace of it. You can have a totally nu-commercial, or as some would call it, grotesque body and be strong and able as an ox. We need to accept people as they are, not packaged and labeled.
Again, no reflection on Sasche – she’s a brave soul and even though there will be mockery and misuse, she has struck a blow for disabled acceptance.