Jalese Ayana Whitehurst

Pretty Girl Blues redefines femininity by focusing on the experience of a young girl who chooses to wear boys' and men's clothing and carries herself in a masculine way in urban communities. The film is written and performed by Jalese Ayana. The goal of this project is to encourage young kids to be transparent with their own experiences by speaking about childhood experiences that affect the way one grows through one's teens and early adulthood. What started out as an audio piece grew into a multimedia project when Jalese began shooting women who could relate to her own experiences. The majority of these women fit within the LGBTQ spectrum and self-identify as non-binary, studs, dykes and tomboys.