My name is Mihaela Noroc, I'm a Romanian photographer who's been travelling the world for the past 4 years with my backpack and my camera, photographing everyday women and collecting their stories. My project is called The Atlas of Beauty.
My goal is to show that every woman shines like a star because beauty is diversity, and not just what we see in mass-media.
For me, the real beauty has no age, colours or trends. You can find it in Africa or in Europe, in a village or in a skyscraper, in a smile, in a gesture, in an intense gaze, in some wrinkles, or in a story. You can find it in every kind-hearted human being.
Now The Atlas of Beauty becomes a stunning book with more that 500 portraits and many interesting stories. In a time of hate and intolerance, I want to send a message about love and acceptance. I hope this book will get into many homes around the world, convincing more people that diversity is a treasure and not a trigger for conflicts and hate. We are very different but at the same time we are all part of the same family.
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Kathmandu, Nepal
Sona was celebrating Holi when I met her.
wow.. such intense eyes, she is so beautiful Amazing colors as well.
Ethiopia
She is a Muslim and her best friend, another young woman who owns this small terrace, is a Christian. While traveling in Ethiopia, in February, I admired the way Christians and Muslims get along. I saw many beautiful friendships that go beyond religion.
I wish I could upvote a thousand and one times, not just for the beautiful face, but the story that goes with it!
Baku, Azerbaijan
In a society dominated by men, where many women are still afraid to be photographed without asking permission from their husbands, things are changing.
There are more and more Azerbaijani women who fight for gender equality and although they are now a minority, I'm sure they will soon be a majority.
Fidan is one of these amazing women who would never start a relationship, if she wouldn't be treated equally and respected.
Tehran, Iran
Mahsa is a graphic designer and is proud of the fact that from the time she turned eighteen, she has been financially independent.
Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan
She was working in the field in one of the most remote places of the world.
Chichicastenango, Guatemala
Maria was selling vegetables in the market of a small village.
Kathmandu, Nepal
She was walking with her son. She didn’t speak English, but he did. So I told him I wanted to photograph his mother. And he asked me why. 'Because she’s beautiful.' He proudly smiled and looked at his mother. 'Yes, she is.'
Pokhara, Nepal
It was a Sunday in 2015 and just like every weekend, many people from Pokhara, Nepal were spending their time around the splendid Phewa lake.
Idomeni Refugee Camp, Greece
This mother and her daughters fled the war in Syria.
Nampan, Myanmar
I met this lovely lady at a local market.
Bucharest, Romania
In 2005 Magda experienced a terrible car accident, as a passenger. In most parts of the world, people in wheelchairs are condemned to isolation by authorities. While traveling around the planet I visited tens of countries where you don’t see them at all, in public areas. Why? Because in all those places, leaving your home in a wheelchair is almost an impossible mission due to that lack of infrastructure. But Magda wants to change the way people in wheelchairs are treated, at least in her country, through some amazing initiatives.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Thorunn brings Icelandic women together via a popular online community.
Korolyov, Russia
Nastya takes passport photos in this little shop, but her dream is to take landscape photos around the world.
Omo Valley, Ethiopia
Her tribe is called the Daasanach. With the high temperatures here, nudity is not unusual.
Lisbon, Portugal
Daniela is from Lisbon, Portugal and has Angolan origins. It’s lovely to walk on the streets of this gorgeous city and see so many diverse people living in harmony.
Havana, Cuba
An actress? A model? No, she wishes only to finish her studies and become a nurse.
Pushkar, India
While traveling from country to country, I was happy to see that women have joined public forces all over the world.
Berlin, Germany
Anais has a Malian mother and a French father and feels both African and European.
Zürich, Switzerland
Patricia and Rebecca, from Switzerland, are sisters. There’s only one-year difference between them. "When we were small, most of the kids laughed at our red hair. But that brought us closer to each other.” Years have passed and I noticed them in Zürich Central Station, two days ago. There was something magical about them.
I will never understand people's weirdness with red hair, I would love to have hair that beautiful, natural color! Rock on girls!
Belgian With Polish Origins
Ania dreams to compete in the Paralympic Games.
Tibetan Plateau
Among the most graceful women I encountered, this Tibetan mother of two in a rural village looked like this the moment she opened her door to me; she had been cleaning her house, and yet she was wearing her jewelry.
Timisoara, Romania
Alice was celebrating her high school graduation.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
She's wearing a deel, which is a traditional outfit commonly seen in Mongolia.
Syria
I met this young Yazidi girl from Syria in a refugee camp from the Kurdistan Region in Iraq. Hasa was feeling fortunate that she’s alive and has the chance to study. Unfortunately she lost six of her small cousins when Isis attacked her village in Syria.
Kathmandu, Nepal
We live in a beautiful world and diversity is one of our greatest gifts. In the same time, this world became much more intolerant towards diversity, in the last years. But don't lose hope! I've seen with my own eyes during my travels that there's much more kindness in this world, than hate. We just have to notice it, share it with others and make this world a better place for our children.
Chichicastenango, Guatemala
Many women of the world carry great burdens every day, either literally or figuratively. And they do it, like this lovely woman, with so much tenderness and positivity. I met her in January, in Chichicastenango, a small town from Guatemala.
Paris, France
Imane has African and European origins and dreams to open an art gallery for artists from all over the world.
Milan, Italy
The daughter, Caterina, is a ballerina and her biggest supporter is her mother, Barbara.
Guatemala
A beautiful family dressed in stunning outfits made by the mother.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Natia, from Tbilisi, Georgia, studies Law and wishes to become a criminalist. She told me that her dream is to work for the FBI someday. In the meantime she already gained a scholarship and works in this coffee shop for a living.
Istanbul, Turkey
Pinar is a theater actress. While she loves playing different roles on stage, in real life, she adores being herself, natural and free.
Cuenca, Ecuador
A moment of tenderness at the food market.
Berlin, Germany
This German young woman travels as much as she can. Her loved ones are spread all over the world and she is still searching for a place where she would love to live.
Idomeni, Greece
I met this brave mother of three children last year in Idomeni Refugee Camp from Greece. She escaped from her hometown in Iraq, which was under ISIS’s control. She traveled a long road to Europe with her children, spending all her savings, in hope of a safer life.
I feel so helpless in the face of such great suffering. I just want to send my love to them. I wish I could help them more, materially, but I am impotent in the face of such need. :'(
Jodhpur, India
While traveling in India, almost two years ago, I noticed that trains are the country’s vital circulatory system. They transport more than twenty million people every day. Just imagine twenty million fascinating stories! I wanted to hear hers but the train left after a few seconds from Jodhpur Station.
india is no more a terrible country for women than any part of the world. Yes, women are still fighting for their rights but very good strides have been made by them in all fields. Please don't demonize it unnecessarily. Trump and Weinstein and so many other sexual assault cases have happened in the West too.
Very beautiful women and pictures. But how exactly does that change our way to see beauty?
My thought exactly. Why go to different countries and take pictures of the women who best fit the western beauty standards.
Load More Replies...What if you photographed 60 average looking people ? This women are alle above average..
Yeah, I was thinking the same. I was hoping this would show more actually average-looking women, especially for the young adult women as majority of them looked like they were chosen for looking like fashion models with makeup and flawless features. Or are they Photoshopped? I don't know, but it still feels like it's trying to cater a bit much to the more vain western audience obsessed with the fantasy of "exotic beauty" ideal. I even would have preferred if it didn't focus so much on female beauty exclusively, but also add in males to not make it feel so segregated or single us out as "we must be obsessed with beauty and modeling all the time, men don't need to worry at all, they can enjoy looking at us whatever". Plus it didn't tell most of their stories, only a few, so it feels incomplete. >.<
Load More Replies...Sorry,but Greece-Hellas is not represented from refugees.It shouldn t be.
Also, I wanted to add that the Afghani lady which is clearly from the Kalash tribe which have Greek links are not representative of Afghan women.
Load More Replies...I appreciate learning their stories but it doesn't really change any beauty standards. I do like that it's helping the stereotype that attractive people are stupid so that's something.
So you think these women are dumb because there healthy! Just because you like fat people it doesn't mean the majority has to like fat people you facist femenist pig!
Load More Replies...I really hate stuff like this. Of course we see beauty all around the world, if all you photograph is beautiful women. Duh. How about photographing any woman of any age and looks. Now that would be challenging.
Fascinating pictures and stories! Either way it makes me think deeper thoughts.
First woman from Nepal is so cute (my favorite), i think she have someting special.
Beautiful photographs and also beautiful stories, I love them all.. Thank you for sharing
Very beautiful women! BUT Greece has Greek women as well. 2 pics with only refuges? Agenda Promoter Smell
thank you for traveling and gathering story's also with the immages . When I find myself in a situation that is heavy I connect to all women in the world and that is enough to relativate and go on suported.
I have never understood men who disregard the beauty of women from one nation or another. Beautiful is beautiful, no matter where you call home.
These are really lovely shots if I may also comment the lady from Afghanistan looks like she has endured a harsh environment and yet still shines. I commend the photographer for not only her photographic skills but also her bravery in travelling to all these places on her own. I remain happily ensconced in my Australian country town :)
Really all beautiful ! And I liked the conter "clichés" for example the Germany (Anais) or France (Imane) photos... Even if I don't know Germany (but the model is an half French) the France photo is really alike I see my country and Europe :) but where are the 60 ?
I know this is an old post but I have to ask : where are the scars ? The difformities ? The pimples ? The birth marks ? The visible diseases like alopecia or skin diseases ? 36 photos, except 1, all women are thin. Except 2, all women are young. Ok you have one in a chair (but still thin and young) and one with a prosthetic leg (but still thin, young and athletic). How is beauty different here ?
We are all created by The ALMIGHTY. HE called us as the best creation. Each of us has heart which is known only by HIM. So, we must not discriminate among us. Treat each other equally.
You really missed the beautiful women in SE Asia: Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands and Hawaii. Also missed Australian and New Zealand indigenous people.
No doubt about it - women are beautiful. Excellent photography - thank you.
I winder why only 1 person photographed, might be considered a bit heavier #32 I guess in the photographers, Lens heavier Ladies are not considered Beauties...
The majority of these women have incredibly similar facial structures despite their different skin tones and slightly varied facial features. How is it supposed to change the way we see beauty when nearly all of them women look the same?
Nice pictures of beautiful, natural, all though surely not average women. Tell me, when to change my perception of beauty...
Very pretty, mostly young, and all but one (on page 4, after showing 30 others) quite thin. They are definitely good photos, but I am not certain that they "change the way that we see beauty". 😕
All of them are really looking awesome .... Masha Allah Beauty never need a 💄 makeup.... Simple look is just fabulous....
I think a very good idea, but next time I would like to see Armenia :)
I like the pictures a lot and would like to hear all the stories behind the pictures. I found it interesting that she choose to photograph a lot of refugees and people who are mixed races or a different race to the country they were born/live. I loved the casual shown diversity but I would have liked to see the 'typical' people of the countries, too.
When is someone going to take picters of MEN from 60 countries to change perspective on beauty?!!??!
The pictures are beautiful and you have done a beautiful job of showing to those who can see that the world is all the same and that every person in it has a different view of one earth ... You are a blessing ... thank you for your work !!!!! We are all beautiful !!!!! Every one has something ... every one ... each one ... is beautiful !!!!!!!!! May GOD bless your beautiful sight !!!!!! You are blessed !!!!!!!
I think the pictures are beautifull. So are the women. Not to bring you down... but only one of them has a bmi over 20. They represent ecxactly like the models in magazines. .. perhaps you should choose other pictures to complement your text :)
I absolutely loved how almost everyone said nice things to the people in the pictures :)
What happened to Brazil?????? Brazilian women have so many different mixes of colors
How can these photos of females of varying degrees of attractiveness change the way anyone thinks of beauty? Beauty is subjective, but there are numerous traits that are considered to be attractive by all cultures across the globe. And having numerous, craggly wrinkles due to advanced age is not one of them.
These are all beautiful women. Thank you Mihaela Noroc for bringing them to us. Each one proves that a rose by any other name -- and from any other location -- smells just as sweet.
how is that different? Beautiful skinny women in the pictures. I don't get it...
Amazing collection of human photographs. This lady deserves to be congradulated. i have travelled by land with a small backpack most of my holidays during 70's and not long ago. Am 70 years and love photography, so I appreciate this work especially being a woman is bit hard in some of those lesser touristy places. Again thank you. Great work.
syrian refygees representing Greece.... hm.... something is wrong in photograper's brain!
Well done in sharing with us such beautiful photos. Keep updating us with more pictures from more different countries possibly also Malta.
So the author put his two toes outside the realm of normative beauty by including few women who would get problems getting hired as models (in most cases due to their age)... If that's really a challenge to the way we see beauty, I don't think we live in the same world and I'm really glad we don't.
The photographer is a woman, so your whole man-hating agenda was made null on this post. Better luck next time.
Load More Replies...Thank you for sharing. Beauty has no country and no age -- it's universal!
Why do we have to vote on these anyway? Shouldn't they all be EQUALLY beautiful? Isn't that the point of this photo essay?
So you have absolutely no opinion on someone's beauty until you get to know their heart? No stranger is ever attractive?
Load More Replies...Compare this to the male photographer a couple of months ago who travelled around the world hiring models and claiming to find "unique" beauty. His result looked more like cheap soft porn.
Beautiful and unique, <3 Michelle " First Nations in Manitoba Canada"
Now I think old women are hot! Before I was the sort of monster who found women in their 20s and 30s more attractive than those in their 70s and 80s!
Well...it's nice to know that no matter young or old, whatever race, whatever location....you're still beautiful if you're skinny as these pics show.
Well it's an undeniable truth most people prefer someone who looks after themselves and well majority rules!
Load More Replies...Sona and Anais are just gorgeous...they all are but those 2 girls beauty is just breathtaking...well at least for me :)
Of course all of these women are actually beautiful. If they weren't this good looking I'd think them more beautiful actually
FUCM YOU PANDA . Since when are subhuman african animals EUROPEAN? You bloody wretched son of a whore. F**K YOU YOU F*****G PIECE OF S**T. Europeans especially germans are white skinned with mostly blue eyes and blonde hairs. F**K YOU YOU LUMP OF C**P. Bastard puts asian girls in asia,african girls in africa,muslim savages in muslim countries BUT NON WHITE SCUM IN EUROPE? Not 1 non white filthy swine m**********r has the right to exist in europe. EUROPE IS FOR WHITE CHRISTIAN EUROPEANS. Get out you f*****g invader animals
Since when are subhuman african animals EUROPEAN? You bloody wretched son of a whore. F**K YOU YOU F*****G PIECE OF S**T. Europeans especially germans are white skinned with mostly blue eyes and blonde hairs. F**K YOU YOU LUMP OF C**P. Bastard puts asian girls in asia,african girls in africa,muslim savages in muslim countries BUT NON WHITE SCUM IN EUROPE? Not 1 non white filthy swine m**********r has the right to exist in europe. EUROPE IS FOR WHITE CHRISTIAN EUROPEANS. Get out you f*****g invader animals
This is so incredibly powerful for me as a woman! I wish every woman could see this, regardless if you think they were handpicked or not, this is something I find truly fascinating. There are boundaries we have to break between cultures, and when you see human faces like this - it makes the culture not seem so foreign - we are all human, and need to strive a little more to treat each other as such. -- culturetrekking.com
Very beautiful women and pictures. But how exactly does that change our way to see beauty?
My thought exactly. Why go to different countries and take pictures of the women who best fit the western beauty standards.
Load More Replies...What if you photographed 60 average looking people ? This women are alle above average..
Yeah, I was thinking the same. I was hoping this would show more actually average-looking women, especially for the young adult women as majority of them looked like they were chosen for looking like fashion models with makeup and flawless features. Or are they Photoshopped? I don't know, but it still feels like it's trying to cater a bit much to the more vain western audience obsessed with the fantasy of "exotic beauty" ideal. I even would have preferred if it didn't focus so much on female beauty exclusively, but also add in males to not make it feel so segregated or single us out as "we must be obsessed with beauty and modeling all the time, men don't need to worry at all, they can enjoy looking at us whatever". Plus it didn't tell most of their stories, only a few, so it feels incomplete. >.<
Load More Replies...Sorry,but Greece-Hellas is not represented from refugees.It shouldn t be.
Also, I wanted to add that the Afghani lady which is clearly from the Kalash tribe which have Greek links are not representative of Afghan women.
Load More Replies...I appreciate learning their stories but it doesn't really change any beauty standards. I do like that it's helping the stereotype that attractive people are stupid so that's something.
So you think these women are dumb because there healthy! Just because you like fat people it doesn't mean the majority has to like fat people you facist femenist pig!
Load More Replies...I really hate stuff like this. Of course we see beauty all around the world, if all you photograph is beautiful women. Duh. How about photographing any woman of any age and looks. Now that would be challenging.
Fascinating pictures and stories! Either way it makes me think deeper thoughts.
First woman from Nepal is so cute (my favorite), i think she have someting special.
Beautiful photographs and also beautiful stories, I love them all.. Thank you for sharing
Very beautiful women! BUT Greece has Greek women as well. 2 pics with only refuges? Agenda Promoter Smell
thank you for traveling and gathering story's also with the immages . When I find myself in a situation that is heavy I connect to all women in the world and that is enough to relativate and go on suported.
I have never understood men who disregard the beauty of women from one nation or another. Beautiful is beautiful, no matter where you call home.
These are really lovely shots if I may also comment the lady from Afghanistan looks like she has endured a harsh environment and yet still shines. I commend the photographer for not only her photographic skills but also her bravery in travelling to all these places on her own. I remain happily ensconced in my Australian country town :)
Really all beautiful ! And I liked the conter "clichés" for example the Germany (Anais) or France (Imane) photos... Even if I don't know Germany (but the model is an half French) the France photo is really alike I see my country and Europe :) but where are the 60 ?
I know this is an old post but I have to ask : where are the scars ? The difformities ? The pimples ? The birth marks ? The visible diseases like alopecia or skin diseases ? 36 photos, except 1, all women are thin. Except 2, all women are young. Ok you have one in a chair (but still thin and young) and one with a prosthetic leg (but still thin, young and athletic). How is beauty different here ?
We are all created by The ALMIGHTY. HE called us as the best creation. Each of us has heart which is known only by HIM. So, we must not discriminate among us. Treat each other equally.
You really missed the beautiful women in SE Asia: Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands and Hawaii. Also missed Australian and New Zealand indigenous people.
No doubt about it - women are beautiful. Excellent photography - thank you.
I winder why only 1 person photographed, might be considered a bit heavier #32 I guess in the photographers, Lens heavier Ladies are not considered Beauties...
The majority of these women have incredibly similar facial structures despite their different skin tones and slightly varied facial features. How is it supposed to change the way we see beauty when nearly all of them women look the same?
Nice pictures of beautiful, natural, all though surely not average women. Tell me, when to change my perception of beauty...
Very pretty, mostly young, and all but one (on page 4, after showing 30 others) quite thin. They are definitely good photos, but I am not certain that they "change the way that we see beauty". 😕
All of them are really looking awesome .... Masha Allah Beauty never need a 💄 makeup.... Simple look is just fabulous....
I think a very good idea, but next time I would like to see Armenia :)
I like the pictures a lot and would like to hear all the stories behind the pictures. I found it interesting that she choose to photograph a lot of refugees and people who are mixed races or a different race to the country they were born/live. I loved the casual shown diversity but I would have liked to see the 'typical' people of the countries, too.
When is someone going to take picters of MEN from 60 countries to change perspective on beauty?!!??!
The pictures are beautiful and you have done a beautiful job of showing to those who can see that the world is all the same and that every person in it has a different view of one earth ... You are a blessing ... thank you for your work !!!!! We are all beautiful !!!!! Every one has something ... every one ... each one ... is beautiful !!!!!!!!! May GOD bless your beautiful sight !!!!!! You are blessed !!!!!!!
I think the pictures are beautifull. So are the women. Not to bring you down... but only one of them has a bmi over 20. They represent ecxactly like the models in magazines. .. perhaps you should choose other pictures to complement your text :)
I absolutely loved how almost everyone said nice things to the people in the pictures :)
What happened to Brazil?????? Brazilian women have so many different mixes of colors
How can these photos of females of varying degrees of attractiveness change the way anyone thinks of beauty? Beauty is subjective, but there are numerous traits that are considered to be attractive by all cultures across the globe. And having numerous, craggly wrinkles due to advanced age is not one of them.
These are all beautiful women. Thank you Mihaela Noroc for bringing them to us. Each one proves that a rose by any other name -- and from any other location -- smells just as sweet.
how is that different? Beautiful skinny women in the pictures. I don't get it...
Amazing collection of human photographs. This lady deserves to be congradulated. i have travelled by land with a small backpack most of my holidays during 70's and not long ago. Am 70 years and love photography, so I appreciate this work especially being a woman is bit hard in some of those lesser touristy places. Again thank you. Great work.
syrian refygees representing Greece.... hm.... something is wrong in photograper's brain!
Well done in sharing with us such beautiful photos. Keep updating us with more pictures from more different countries possibly also Malta.
So the author put his two toes outside the realm of normative beauty by including few women who would get problems getting hired as models (in most cases due to their age)... If that's really a challenge to the way we see beauty, I don't think we live in the same world and I'm really glad we don't.
The photographer is a woman, so your whole man-hating agenda was made null on this post. Better luck next time.
Load More Replies...Thank you for sharing. Beauty has no country and no age -- it's universal!
Why do we have to vote on these anyway? Shouldn't they all be EQUALLY beautiful? Isn't that the point of this photo essay?
So you have absolutely no opinion on someone's beauty until you get to know their heart? No stranger is ever attractive?
Load More Replies...Compare this to the male photographer a couple of months ago who travelled around the world hiring models and claiming to find "unique" beauty. His result looked more like cheap soft porn.
Beautiful and unique, <3 Michelle " First Nations in Manitoba Canada"
Now I think old women are hot! Before I was the sort of monster who found women in their 20s and 30s more attractive than those in their 70s and 80s!
Well...it's nice to know that no matter young or old, whatever race, whatever location....you're still beautiful if you're skinny as these pics show.
Well it's an undeniable truth most people prefer someone who looks after themselves and well majority rules!
Load More Replies...Sona and Anais are just gorgeous...they all are but those 2 girls beauty is just breathtaking...well at least for me :)
Of course all of these women are actually beautiful. If they weren't this good looking I'd think them more beautiful actually
FUCM YOU PANDA . Since when are subhuman african animals EUROPEAN? You bloody wretched son of a whore. F**K YOU YOU F*****G PIECE OF S**T. Europeans especially germans are white skinned with mostly blue eyes and blonde hairs. F**K YOU YOU LUMP OF C**P. Bastard puts asian girls in asia,african girls in africa,muslim savages in muslim countries BUT NON WHITE SCUM IN EUROPE? Not 1 non white filthy swine m**********r has the right to exist in europe. EUROPE IS FOR WHITE CHRISTIAN EUROPEANS. Get out you f*****g invader animals
Since when are subhuman african animals EUROPEAN? You bloody wretched son of a whore. F**K YOU YOU F*****G PIECE OF S**T. Europeans especially germans are white skinned with mostly blue eyes and blonde hairs. F**K YOU YOU LUMP OF C**P. Bastard puts asian girls in asia,african girls in africa,muslim savages in muslim countries BUT NON WHITE SCUM IN EUROPE? Not 1 non white filthy swine m**********r has the right to exist in europe. EUROPE IS FOR WHITE CHRISTIAN EUROPEANS. Get out you f*****g invader animals
This is so incredibly powerful for me as a woman! I wish every woman could see this, regardless if you think they were handpicked or not, this is something I find truly fascinating. There are boundaries we have to break between cultures, and when you see human faces like this - it makes the culture not seem so foreign - we are all human, and need to strive a little more to treat each other as such. -- culturetrekking.com