I’ve long struggled with how my bust shaped the way I was perceived - especially in relationships. From the passing remarks of elementary school boys to the objectifying comments of crushes, I lost faith that I could ever be seen beyond my chest. For a time, it felt like without it, I wouldn’t be lovable.

While my relationship with my body is still evolving, I’ve come to realize that my femininity doesn’t reside in any one feature. It lives deeper - not in my skin, but in the parts of me that can’t be touched or reduced.

In this piece, a posed self-portrait shows my ribcage exposed, my breasts faded away. From within the skeleton, peonies bloom - a symbol of love, femininity, and honor - sprouting from the very place I once felt defined by. This work is a reclamation of femininity, self, and the freedom to be more than what’s seen.

Showcased in Peacebuilding Through Art Exhibition at St. Edward's University, Austin, TX.

Published in St. Edward’s University’s 2025 Sorin Oak Review Volume 35.