Shadow Series: Coira, Part III For this last set, we used traditional Korean peppers in the shots to represent Coira's inner spice. 🌶🌶🌶As a Korean-American myself, these peppers took me back to my childhood when I used to go to the country-side and I'd see my aunties/elders laying them out in the sun to dry. Sometimes being in a melting pot, you forget the little memories and your identity starts to blend with all the experiences you've marinated within yourself. So I wanted to know, what does it mean to be an Asian-American? "My version of being Asian-American is that I am a sexually empowered female with an unshakable value system, someone who is unafraid to speak her mind, but in a polite & respectful way. Someone who pays respect to every human, every room, & the universe at large. I still bow down in respect to my culture, but in an empowered and aware way, not as a repressed or an ashamed woman. I'm doing my best figuring it out as I go, aligning to my divine purpose and my ancestors everyday to guide me. I know that I'm part of creating the mold of what it means to be a truly empowered Asian American, because for the generations before me, they had to adapt to the existing culture here in the US. I think if I had to say anything to all my Asian Americans out there, it would be the affirmation "your version of yourself is always valid". There is no one or right way to be "Asian". Do you, and fully embrace you, and where you come from and be respectful -- that is enough." - Coira Publication @10011co Muse @princess.coira HMUA @mua__jeanice Ph assist @maine.curtis Video @quentinpistol #koreanmodel #koreandancer #asianphotographer #koreanbeauty #hanbokdress #hanbok #dancerphotography #asiancreativenetwork #한복 #한복촬영 #한국모델 #koreanfashion #koreanstyle