The dreamiest shoot honouring my favourite person ever, Maman 💕 for issue 15 of @thevioletbook . This story was inspired by my mother's younger years growing up in Congo post independence , That time is still engrained in her memory as the best time of her life. I grew up listening to stories of her childhood / late teenage years and fantasising about the clothes her and my aunties used to rock , the way they used to do their hair , the year she met my dad and curved him or how much she loved Elvis Presley . My grand mother always made sure that her 5 girls were the most elegant young women in the neighbourhood, gracious , kind and always ready for church . All the good things about me definitely come from the women in my family who I’ve always looked up to as the blue print for beauty and grace and I’m so happy I get to do work that pay homage to that . Love to Ashlee, Lai and Shamara for listening and working on this with me. Thank you @leithclark and Sophie! Photography by me Styling @ashleebarrettbourmier Hair @shamara_roper Make up @laicreates Casting @troy__westwood Production @rawproduction_uk Post Production @maisonmoire Assisted by Tenille Foster