Mihaela Noroc: 'The Power of Women', 'The Atlas of Beauty'

DW (English)

Mihaela Noroc's project "The Atlas of Beauty" spans nearly 100 countries. Her latest book, "The Power of Women," celebrates diversity and strength, challenging beauty norms through authentic portraits worldwide.

Transcript

00:01This photographer sets herself aside from the gloss of magazines,

00:05choosing instead to find naturally striking, expressive women.

00:09For her, inspiration is found in the everyday.

00:13My name is Mihaela Norok.

00:15I traveled in almost 100 countries and I photographed thousands of women

00:19and I had this amazing chance to discover all the stories around the world.

00:24The native Romanian has been photographing women across the world since 2013,

00:29as part of her project, The Atlas of Beauty.

00:33Her Instagram boasts over 440,000 followers.

00:38Her latest book, released in 2025, is dedicated to the power of women.

00:46Her portraits feature mainly classically beautiful women,

00:50but also those who defy traditional beauty standards.

00:54Some survivors of violence, like this woman from Iran,

00:58who survived an acid attack.

01:00I put myself in their situation and for sure I know that I would not have the power to smile again,

01:09if I would have been through what they were, you know, what they experienced.

01:14I don't think I would have had the power to still be okay.

01:18So they have a certain special power that I want to learn from.

01:23I want to understand how did they do it, what is their secret, you know.

01:30Mihaela comes across her models by chance.

01:33Here in the Romanian city of Sibiu, she scans for potential candidates.

01:38But not everyone accepts.

01:40There are different reasons women say no.

01:43My father, my brother, my husband will not allow me.

01:47That's the saddest reason for me.

01:49That's the saddest, saddest reason.

01:52But then, luck strikes.

01:54A market vendor agrees to a photo.

01:57Mihaela makes sure to explain the goal of her project first.

02:00Both are happy with how the shots turned out.

02:12I always try to find women that have like a positive, you know, like a positive effect on me.

02:21Or on the people that follow my work.

02:24For me to learn from that woman something.

02:26For me to be inspired by her in some sorts of ways, you know.

02:31After a few hours, Mihaela calls it a day.

02:34She reviews her shots, keeping post-processing to a minimum.

02:38Authenticity is key.

02:41I hope that my pictures are natural and that they give you the impression of real life.

02:46So I don't try to recreate a fantasy world.

02:50I try to show a natural world.

02:53Her photos are highly acclaimed.

02:56Strong book sales have kept Mihaela motivated.

02:59And she's not short on ideas for future volumes.

03:08My plans for the future are very simple.

03:10I want to continue this project all my life.

03:12I'm going to do this work all my life.

03:15So as many years I live, I'm going to keep photographing women and tell their story.

03:20Because you see we are surrounded by so many incredible women and nobody notices them.

03:24I'm the one to do it.

03:26In the next years I want to do a book with women of Romania.

03:29After that maybe I'll do a book with mothers of the world.

03:32I don't know.

03:33Just keep on exploring and exploring.

03:36For Mihaela Norok, beauty knows no borders.

03:41Her lens proves that it isn't really about norms at all.

03:45Beauty comes from within.

03:47From confidence, resilience and authenticity.

03:50Phon dangling.

03:51I don't know.

03:52I am lucky I am proud.

03:53There is no spaces on planning.

03:54But I he wasn't tied with them.

03:55Soparock Central learned about the wilderness of the right.

03:56She was nakedbe손

04:06Correct.

04:09I am look to the story and look to shape.

04:10First seem to lay down.

04:11Princess truce Ministries

04:13protected.

04:14We can make a focus to improve the difference behind the knowledge of women.

04:15In the next one that plays a small engagador.

04:17Good morning.

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