I was a teenager in the 90’s and always decorated my room with posters of people I loved, including Kate Winslet; Neve Campbell; Claire Danes; Ani Di Franco; Des’ree; and Claire Danes and Leo Di Caprio as the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. Most of my posters were of strong women. I did not have crushes on them, or look at them and compare how I looked and feel inferior. Instead, their stunning beauty, powerful strength, strong characters and incredible music was profoundly empowering. Growing up, I had many strong women in my life and I never felt inferiority from the patriarchy. I grew up feeling respected and supported by a network of resilient, unconditionally loving, caring, supportive women, many in leadership positions, and I didn’t know anything different. They all still support me today.
In my 30’s I had a dream about the posters – I felt lost without them, I needed them up again. Then I moved rooms, and found them. They immediately went back up and gave me strength.
In 2020 when I was 40, I finally had the portraiture skills to draw them and I captured their essence in my original ByShi Rainbow Bubbles of Collective Effervescence Portrait Style. These portraits mean so much to me, and they remain on my wall, empowering me every day. I’m so grateFULL to these women, for all the incredible women in my life, and for the privilege to grow up feeling loved and respected.