Meet Sophia Hadjipanteli, the face of our latest edit. She is a first-generation Greek Cypriot American model and beauty activist. Sophia is single – handedly changing the face of beauty by not only embracing her unibrow but also by showing others they can too, with confidence.
‘Changing the world without changing myself’ – Sophia Hadjipanteli
Founder of the #UnibrowMovement is a stunning showcase of female empowerment and the idea that true beauty is trend less. Inspired by her family and culture she has started a body positive movement that ignores the ‘should's’ and promotes mold-free beauty, Reminding us that beauty is not something that can be defined by trends or societal expectations.
Working with Sophia was important to us at Playful as she represents all of our values.
Sophia has used her platform to advocate for body positivity and self love, encouraging her followers to embrace their unique features. We all want to acknowledge that beauty comes from within, in all shapes, sizes and forms. It’s a refreshing and powerful mission for all of us to challenge the narrow beauty standards that have been perpetuated for far too long. Our edit is here to reject societal expectations and embrace individual uniqueness.
The concept for our shoot was ‘Beauty is timeless’ referencing renaissance paintings. Renaissance art are often praised as perfect examples of the concept that beauty is timeless. These works of art created in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, are still appreciated for their aesthetic qualities today. The realistic depictions of human figures and natural landscapes are celebrated for their grace and elegance despite the fact they are centuries old.
The painting we used ‘Diana Bathing, Surprised by Actaeon” by Charles-Joseph Nattier. In that story the young hunter Actaeon encounters the naked figure of the goddess Diana and her nymphs. Diana in a fit of embarrassed fury splashes water on the hunter, transforming him into a deer. Whilst this story is a classic example of male objectification of women, we believe lingerie in the modern age can be seen as a way for women to reclaim control of how they are seen and perceived.
In the painting, Diana is depicted as vulnerable and embarrassed, forced to react to the unwanted gaze of a male intruder. However, in the modern age, women can use lingerie as a tool to assert their own agency and control over their own bodies and express their own sexuality and desire on their own terms. By choosing what to wear and how to present themselves, women can reinvent the story, taking control of their own narrative and asserting their own power and agency.
In this way, lingerie can be seen as a symbol of female empowerment, a way for women to transform the narrative of the past and assert their own autonomy in the present, just how Sophia has become a beacon of individuality and self love on her own terms.
Shop Sophia’s edit, a selection of lingerie and nightwear, featuring lush embroidery, velvets and texture with confidence and comfort in mind. Soft fabrics, delicate details and bold prints combined to create a collection that embraces all forms of beauty: trend less, timeless and unapologetically you!
