Bellissima in Italian means “most beautiful,” but this particular photo series is not of an Italian girl nor is it shot by an Italian photographer. Instead, in what turns out to be quite a rarity, we have an American girl being shot by an American photographer Michael White. Let us dive a little deeper into how this small geographical fact helps us better appreciate this wonderful series.
Of course, in a certain sense, girls are the same everywhere. Full of interesting little quirks, flirtatious desires, and pretty passions. But there is also something about a girl being from a particular country that tells you something about her. In this case, Met Art is a Yankee, a full-blooded American, and that definitely informs us about her.
Yes, she’s casual. Like many American girls, she’s comfortable hanging out with the guys, going to baseball games, riding around in her truck (she’s from Virginia, which is both Northern and Southern in its sensibilities). She likes to wear jeans and t-shirts and baseball caps as much as she likes to dress up to go to the Prom. She is into rap music and rock music and she thinks Brad Pitt is the hottest thing ever.
But another American trait that Brandi has is her “puritanical” streak. She feels that it isn’t right to have sex until she’s gotten married, so she is saving herself for that. She goes to church every Sunday and is careful not to swear. And a part of this makes her tend to prefer gentlemanly men, men with manners, men who show her how special she is.
Her final “American” trait is that she loves to look at herself in the mirror! Okay, we admit. Perhaps girls in all countries like to do this, but there something uniquely vain about an American girl doing it, isn’t there? Most of the photos in this series are, in fact, of Brandi looking at herself in the mirror, trying on and taking off different clothes, and admiring (and showing off) her budding young body.
America may be a super power, but there’s a lot more to her than that. One look at Brandi shows you the innocence and joy of life that is lurking behind all the global reach. Go Yankees!
Preview gallery: ‘Mantras’
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