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A-Z Of Inspirational Women - F is for Fierce #FridaKahlo

For this inspirational women post I wanted to do something a little different. Usually I would talk about a selection of fabulous women who I find inspirational and want you to know more about. Today I want to just focus on one! If you follow my posts regularly it will come of no surprise that a big influence to me is Frida Kahlo. When I first found out about her in art class she blew my mind all over my all girl secondary school walls. Especially when I heard this quote.

“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it's true I'm here, and I'm just as strange as you.” 



Frida is a creative dream role model. She was open, expressive and talented. Born Magdelina Carmen Frieda Kahlo but known to the world as Frida Kahlo revolutionary artist and without knowing it she has become a huge feminist icon. Many women will argue that she does not represent feminism, but them many women will argue for eternity not realising the freedom of speech they have comes from women like Frida. In 1907-1954 when she graced the earth women didn't have the freedom they have now yet when you hear of her loud outspoken spirit you wouldn't believe it. 


Frida's paintings step boundaries opening her heart and sharing her emotions with the world. Above you can see her depiction of her birth. This is one of my favourite pictures representing womanhood, fertility, and heavy Catholicism.  At 18 Frida was in a terrible collision between a train and a bus. This lead to her breaking her spine in 3 places, a triple fracture of the pelvis from where a hand rail skewered her entering at her hip and leaving at her vagina. Doctors didn't think she would live but she proved them wrong and fought to get better. She continued to paint through these times even when she had to wear a braced corset. 


Frida fell deeply in love with a much older man Diego who was also an artist and he was often also the subject of her art work. Love lead to other trauma in her life in the form of horrific miscarriages. She expressed her emotions through paintings one of which is above. She was not scared to express how she felt and kept no secrets about things so many women are to scared to talk about. More women need to share this pain and frustration through this more understanding around the subject can be increased. I admire greatly that Frida was able to share the deepest pains in her paintings which without knowing can help so many other women through their suffering. 


Clothes were also a big form of expression in Frida's life. She can be seen above wearing a mans suit in a family portrait. In a time where women wore dresses and only men wore trousers this is just a token of Frida's free spirit. She challenged gender roles and was unapologetic and rebellious in nature. More famously known for the traditional Mexican clothes she wore. Those with bright clashing colours and adorning her hair with flowers. Embracing her femininity and sexuality. Her appearance has been seen as controversial as she embraced her facial hair , wasn't afraid of getting naked and displaying her disabilities. These are all revolutionary ideals that all women should feel they are able to do if they feel so instead of listening to what society forces upon us. Embrace the things that make you different from others because those are the things that make you unique and beautiful. 


Frida's paintings were described as surrealist but even she joked that she didn't even know she was a surrealist until she was told but she just felt that she painted herself as that is what she knew best. Her work was described as 'A ribbon around a bomb'. Dancing all over subjects of death and most often the subject of her paintings being herself and her life.


So what makes Frida Kahlo fierce and admirable? She was talented, unapologetic, revolutionary, outspoken and a true representation of womanhood. Full of beautiful and true words proof that no matter what we go through in life we should live our life with passion. Love deeply, create freely and speak openly. "Take a lover that looks at you as though you are magic" but most importantly feel that way about yourself!


Comments

  1. Wow she really is very inspirational! really think it's great how you've started this series :) x
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    1. She was an amazing woman. Thank you for stopping by x

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  2. I have never heard of her before, but those paintings... the one of her birth?! fascinating!

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    1. She is amazing you should check her out. There is also a really good film about her x

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  3. Beautiful piece on an incredible woman <3 x

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    1. Thank you my lovely horror sister I <3 her so much x

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