Around 17/18, back in 2016, I started attending photo expos and networking events in the city. I was often the youngest photographer in the room, and with photography being a male-dominated field, I was usually the only Black Women there. I felt like an outsider—an outcast—and constantly had to prove my skills just to be taken seriously. It hurt because I knew I was talented, but I didn’t fit the mold of what people expected. It took time to build my confidence and realize that how I looked didn’t define my abilities. I’m exceptional at what I do—if not better than most. Now it’s 2025, and the landscape of these spaces has grown and evolved. When I’m the only Black Women photographer in the room now, I feel empowered. It’s an advantage. I use it as an opportunity to show other Black Women photographers that they are just as worthy and valuable to be in these spaces. I’m grateful for the people in my life who speak my name in rooms I’m not in.