She Showed Up Unfiltered—and Completely Changed How We See Beauty

Back in 2018, I traveled to the vibrant streets of Miami — a city with sun-kissed beaches, rich culture, and stories waiting to be told. My mission was simple but powerful: capturing women in their most natural form.

One session stood apart. Gabriela, a stunning Latina woman, walked into the shoot without hesitation, without filters, without concealing anything. She showed up as herself — curves, cellulite, hip dips, and all. That moment was transformational. It wasn’t just a photoshoot — it was a beautiful celebration of who she is.

Gabriela’s Story: Courage Behind the Camera

Gabriela had faced years of self-doubt. Society told her her body wasn’t “perfect” — that cellulite should be hidden, hip dips corrected, curves sculpted away. But Gabriela decided to rewrite her story. That day in Miami, she didn’t just step in front of the Karlo's camera — she stepped into a new chapter of self-love.

(A little BTS from our shoot, during wardrobe check… making sure her curves had their own spotlight.)

"Her confidence radiated. It reminded me that beauty isn’t about perfection — it’s about balancing the most beautiful parts with the imperfect aspects of who we are. Gabriela’s cellulite? Part of her story. Her hip dips? They make her uniquely her. To me, these are some of the most beautiful aspects of a woman’s body. They create balance and harmonize her beauty, making her authentic and one of a kind. To me, that’s beautiful." — Karlo

Breaking Beauty Myths: Cellulite and Hip Dips

Nearly 90% of women have cellulite. Yet it remains one of society’s most stigmatized features. Hip dips, too, are often misunderstood — natural contours that many women feel pressured to change through intense workouts or surgery. Gabriela’s choice to embrace them was powerful. At Obare, we celebrate these differences. As you know, literally every body is meant to have its own shape, curves, and dips.

The Power of Authentic Photography

This session reaffirmed why I believe in capturing women authentically — with little to no makeup, no airbrushing or body manipulation through Photoshop. Just pure, authentic photography, which isn’t just about art. It’s about liberating the notion that everything has to be perfect in such an imperfect world. It’s about showing the world a truth we rarely see, let alone celebrate: the balance between imperfection and perfection, allowing us to witness something truly beautiful — a woman’s natural beauty and body.

Gabriela’s courage showed me something profound — real beauty lies in owning yourself. Cellulite and hip dips included!

Redefining Beauty Standards, One Story at a Time

Yeah, I know the above sounds cliché, but it’s true! Gabriela gave herself a stage of her own — the camera. Her story reminds us that transformation begins with courage, and that overcoming self-doubt starts with showing up unfiltered. Let’s stop hiding.

Let’s celebrate. Because the camera — and the world — is ready for authenticity.