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Alyssa Arena

@alyssaarena

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#BehindthePhoto: The Princesses and The Pea: We Were Always the Princesses. 👑🩷

In Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Princess and the Pea”, a young woman must prove her royalty through a test of sensitivity, with a single pea hidden beneath layers of mattresses. The story raises an interesting question about who gets to determine what makes someone a princess. Growing up, many of us were surrounded by fairytales that celebrated beauty and femininity, yet rarely saw women who looked like us at the center of those stories. These early portrayals may seem insignificant, but they contribute to the ideas we develop about womanhood and whose presence is considered worthy of admiration.

With our campaign, The Princesses and The Pea, we wanted to bring our own experiences and perspectives into a world we’ve always loved. From braids sculpted into bows & butterflies to the romantic lace, pearls, and layered fabrics, every detail was an opportunity to express femininity through our own creative vision. The playful moments between the models were just as important as the carefully composed portraits. We wanted the imagery to feel joyful and intimate, allowing us to embrace the tenderness of a fairytale without reducing our stories to struggle or making our worth dependent on resilience.

This campaign is a celebration of the freedom to define ourselves. We can appreciate the stories we inherited while questioning the expectations they helped create. We’re grateful to the incredible creative team who brought such care and imagination to this editorial, reminding us how powerful it is when we have the opportunity to shape our own narratives. 🩷

Photographer: @hannahzimmerman 📸
Creative Direction & Casting: @thefineshine ⭐️
Set Design: @astoker18 🤍
Styling: @alyssaarena 🎀
Styling Assistant: @mtaylorbailey ✨
Designer: @juliarobinrutherford 👗
Hair: @caylencara.hair 💇🏽‍♀️
Makeup: @makeup.bychloe 💄
Models: @jess.facey & @tenny_zhang 🩷
Graphics: @studios_aj 🎨
Editorial Research: @aliznajaffer 📚

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“The Princesses and The Pea: We Were Always the Princesses.” 👑🤍

In the classic story The Princess and the Pea, a young woman must prove that she is worthy of her royal title. But who gets to decide what royalty looks like? For generations, beloved Disney characters like Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora reflected predominantly Eurocentric beauty standards. Many girls of color grew up with limited opportunities to see themselves reflected in these beloved stories. This history of representation inspires us to imagine a more inclusive world of storytelling where women of color are celebrated as the heroines of their own narratives.

With The Princesses and The Pea, we revisit this familiar tale through a contemporary lens, placing two women of color at the center of their own enchanting story. Soft lace and pastel fabrics create a romantic atmosphere against rich pink drapery. Their intricate braided hairstyles resemble crowns, while their playful interactions bring a sense of personality and spontaneity to the scene. Together, these elements offer a fresh perspective on the elegance and enchantment of a classic royal portrait.

At its heart, this campaign is a celebration of women of color and the beauty of seeing ourselves reflected in stories that have captured imaginations for generations. By bringing our identities into this familiar world, we celebrate the richness of our experiences and the many ways our femininity can be expressed. There is something powerful about seeing ourselves at the center of the magic.

We were always the princesses. ✨

Want a copy of our second issue? Purchase using the link in our bio!🩷

Photographer: @hannahlzimmerman 📸
Creative Director: @thefineshine 🎨
Models: @jess.facey & @tenny_zhang 👑
Set Designer: @astoker18 🖼️
Hair Stylist: @caylencara.hair 🎀
Makeup Artist: @makeup.bychloe 💄
Stylist: @alyssaarena 👗
Styling Assistant: @mtaylorbailey ✨
Designer: @juliarobinrutherford ⭐️
Editorial Research: @aliznajaffer 🤍

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SUMMER XOXO ˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀

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thank you to everyone who came to the NYFW tightsqueeze pop up. it means more to me than you know🩷🎀

photography: @illtapez

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working remotely #nyfw

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Money shot @thenyarchive x @ebay #nyfw

Styled by 👑 @chloe.felopulos

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bts @thenyarchive nyfw x @ebay #nyfw runway show

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styled an (almost) entirely vintage / second-hand shoppable runway show with @thenyarchive & @ebay !!!! Dream dreammmmm job!!! vintage clothing forever and always <3

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: @ebay

FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR: @giannacorv
HOST: @thegoldcoastmt
HEAD OF PRODUCTION: @sarahhcarlson
EBAY PARTNERSHIP LEAD: @anapauxm
PRODUCTION LEADS: @cat_noel @jacqueline_a_armour
PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS: @renimartinezz @annajendsenn @breezy.sejal

STYLIST: @chloe.felopulos
STYLING ASSISTANT: @ma3ayla
DRESSERS: @juliaaderosa @niki.skulikidis @hadleytutton
CASTING: The NY Archive

HAIR: @glamsquad
MAKEUP: @getglambymaya @raedientmakeup
MUSIC: @julia.liddell
PR: @fortepr
GRAPHICS: @julianakomminga & @rosepressinc

PHOTOGRAPHERS: @jessica_amerson @beacasso @brian.picture @elixirfilmstudio @twotwentytwomedia @what_lulusees

SPONSORS & PARTNERS: @ruffinoprosecco @villageoneart @jeanaaaazhenyu @kaprimaison.defleur @_notaflorist

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can’t stop having fun

@solidgroovesuk

@mochakk

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here & there

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