la promesa #18


About the piece

In August 2020, Antonella (12), who lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina, vowed to cut her long hair only when she could resume in-person classes at school, which had been suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Antonella said she was offering up her most precious treasure in exchange for her school life back. Her hair was her identity. She felt she lost her identity without school, and said: “When I finally go back to school they will know I’m a different person, I feel like a different person.” I met Antonella in the course of my long-term project (Las Pelilargas) researching and photographing women with long hair, since 2006. I photographed her throughout lockdown and during her return to school. This project won the World Press Photo Award in the Story Category 2022, South America: https://www.worldpressphoto.org/collection/photo-contest/2022/Irina-Werning/1

  • Creator share 10%
  • File type image/jpeg
  • File size 3.77 MB
  • Category Digital photography