True beauty extends far beyond magazines and runways.
Romanian photographer Mihaela Noroc set out to prove how beauty crosses borders and cultures in her series called The Atlas of Beauty. In it, she captures ordinary women from different countries.
"Now I can say that beauty is everywhere, and it’s not a matter of cosmetics, money, race or social status, but more about being yourself," Noroc told Mashable.
Traveling around the world with just her camera and a backpack, Noroc spends anywhere from 30 seconds to an hour on each portrait. While the series highlights and celebrates cultural diversity, Noroc deliberately chose not to photograph across different age groups; the women in the photographs are roughly around the same age.
"The comparison has to be made using similar conditions," she said. "I think beauty is not about age. It's more about being natural and sincere."
"Maybe in 50 years all women from all around the world will dress and act the same," she added. I hope my project will remain a witness of my era’s cultures and traditions." Noroc has been criticized for not using older women as part of her work.
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