The Royal Nails
From my series, “The Royal Painting,” comes "The Royal Nails," a piece inspired by the legendary Olympian Florence Griffith Joyner, widely known as Flo Jo. A world record holder in the 100m and 200m, Flo Jo wasn’t just celebrated for her athletic prowess—she was also known for her iconic, long acrylic nails with intricate designs. However, instead of solely focusing on her incredible talent and achievements, many white journalists at the time wrote articles that scrutinized her nails, deeming them "ghetto" and dismissing her expression of style as inappropriate.
This work serves as my homage to Flo Jo, reclaiming and exalting the beauty and cultural significance of her self-expression. The Royal Nails repositions her aesthetic as a mark of power, elegance, and identity, celebrating the intersection of athleticism, Black beauty, and unapologetic individuality.
Pictured: Rose Alexis
Photographed 2022
Unframed
From my series, “The Royal Painting,” comes "The Royal Nails," a piece inspired by the legendary Olympian Florence Griffith Joyner, widely known as Flo Jo. A world record holder in the 100m and 200m, Flo Jo wasn’t just celebrated for her athletic prowess—she was also known for her iconic, long acrylic nails with intricate designs. However, instead of solely focusing on her incredible talent and achievements, many white journalists at the time wrote articles that scrutinized her nails, deeming them "ghetto" and dismissing her expression of style as inappropriate.
This work serves as my homage to Flo Jo, reclaiming and exalting the beauty and cultural significance of her self-expression. The Royal Nails repositions her aesthetic as a mark of power, elegance, and identity, celebrating the intersection of athleticism, Black beauty, and unapologetic individuality.
Pictured: Rose Alexis
Photographed 2022
Unframed
From my series, “The Royal Painting,” comes "The Royal Nails," a piece inspired by the legendary Olympian Florence Griffith Joyner, widely known as Flo Jo. A world record holder in the 100m and 200m, Flo Jo wasn’t just celebrated for her athletic prowess—she was also known for her iconic, long acrylic nails with intricate designs. However, instead of solely focusing on her incredible talent and achievements, many white journalists at the time wrote articles that scrutinized her nails, deeming them "ghetto" and dismissing her expression of style as inappropriate.
This work serves as my homage to Flo Jo, reclaiming and exalting the beauty and cultural significance of her self-expression. The Royal Nails repositions her aesthetic as a mark of power, elegance, and identity, celebrating the intersection of athleticism, Black beauty, and unapologetic individuality.
Pictured: Rose Alexis
Photographed 2022
Unframed