A bold photography project is shaking up long-standing expectations around female beauty by inviting women to ditch their razors and reclaim their natural armpit hair. The series challenges the modern grooming standard and offers a raw, alternative take on what it means to feel beautiful.
Hair removal isn’t new—it dates back to prehistoric times. Early humans used shells and sharpened stones to strip their bodies of hair. Fast forward to the era of Charles Darwin, and the idea took on a new dimension: Darwin’s theory of sexual selection implied that less body hair meant being more “advanced” or attractive, embedding the concept of hairlessness as a marker of desirability.
By the 20th century, being hair-free had become a near-mandate for women. The presence of body hair, especially in places like underarms, was framed as something shameful. “Women feel obligated to shave today—it’s as if there’s no real choice,” said Heather Widdows, author of Perfect Me: Beauty as an Ethical Ideal. “And even now, there’s a heavy stigma.”
Now, some women are actively rejecting that narrative. London-based photographer Ben Hopper is capturing this shift in his striking black-and-white series titled Natural Beauty. The project explores why society views female armpit hair as “disgusting” or “unfeminine,” and invites viewers to rethink what beauty really looks like.
“There’s this incredibly rigid image of female beauty in media,” Hopper told Bored Panda. “I wanted to play with the contrast between what’s traditionally seen as fashionable and what’s still considered taboo.”
Since starting the project in 2007, Hopper has photographed women who are choosing to embrace their natural selves. The models, many of them artists and performers, share deeply personal reflections about their experience with body hair.
Kyotocat, one participant, said, “It felt like I could finally breathe. I felt bold again, like I tapped into something primal.” Actress Sophie Rose echoed the sentiment: “Not shaving made me feel powerful. Watching people recoil? That was hilarious—and freeing.”
Another model, Gabriela Eva, deliberately grew out her hair for the shoot. She admitted it was awkward at first but soon found strength in it. “It made me feel vulnerable, then empowered. I’ve gotten used to it—it’s beautiful to me now,” she shared.
Not all participants saw it as a radical act. Sienna noted that for her, growing armpit hair wasn’t about empowerment, just comfort. “It doesn’t always have to be political,” she said. “I just want my body to be mine—not a battleground for expectations.”
Swedish actress Emilie Bostdt agreed. “It’s strange that something as natural as body hair can be viewed as a statement. That alone is reason enough to grow it,” she wrote.
While the message is clear, Hopper isn’t pushing anyone to abandon shaving. “I don’t necessarily want women to grow out their armpit hair,” he said. “I just want them to consider the option. Ask why we think the way we do about beauty.”
Projects like Natural Beauty are sparking deeper conversations around what we accept as “normal” and who gets to decide what’s beautiful. As more people speak out, the concept of beauty is slowly becoming broader, more inclusive, and unapologetically real.
Do you think the world is ready to redefine beauty on its own terms? Share your thoughts and this story to keep the conversation going.
