The Power of Selfies: Feminism and Identity in Petra Collins' Work

- Petra Collins, Into The Glow Interview

#Selfie

“It’s so fascinating to see how girls behave in front of the camera and how they change their face and posture their bodies when they take photos of themselves."

Petra Collins' ongoing 'Selfie" series looks at the power behind the selfie, specifically for young women and girls. In a 2014 interview, Collins' said "I wish that they wouldn’t feel the need to change themselves", more than 10 years later, this is even more relatable.

Collins' work, as a whole, looks at themes of nostalgia, feminism and the internet. ‘Selfie’ looked at its namesake as a way to control how young women, more specifically teenagers, can shape how other people perceive them through the use of photography and social media and use it as a tool of self-empowerment, confidence and growth. These images feel like glimpses into private moments rather than performative self-portraits meant for validation. Unlike the polished, posed smiles seen in influencer culture, Collins’ selfies capture moments of introspection and vulnerability - making her work feel more honest, despite being just as intentional as a typical Instagram post.

As someone who was a teenager when theses photos were taken, I find them highly relatable and nostalgic for a time that wasn't too long ago - a time that feels simpler now, in comparison with everything happening right now in the world. Collins has managed to capture an era in time, where the selfie was still in it's infancy and where young girls, still in their infancy (relatively speaking) were trying to find out who they were through this medium.

References & Further Reading

All images © Petra Collins

Petra Collins Website

'Into The Glow' Interview

Musee Magazine Interview