A group of middle school girls from Cleveland's Slavic Village neighborhood are discovering new ways to express themselves and tell their personal stories through a unique photography program. The initiative, led by nonprofit organization True Beauty Discovery, combines powerful visual storytelling with empowerment workshops designed to help young women reframe their understanding of beauty and self-worth.
For more than a month, six middle school girls have been participating in this transformative program, learning to capture images that reflect their daily lives and personal experiences. Their photographic work will be showcased in a special exhibition on Saturday, November 22, at 78th Street Studios in Cleveland, marking the culmination of their artistic journey.
"True Beauty Discovery supports girls -- inspiring them and empowering them to understand that it's their individuality that makes them beautiful and powerful and capable," explained Holly Fulger, founder of True Beauty Discovery. The program operates in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, specifically through their Broadway Club location, where the participating girls first learned about the True Beauty Discovery initiative.
The program's unique approach centers around seven distinct personality-driven archetypes called "legends," each designed to promote inclusiveness and celebrate individual expressions of beauty. These legends include The Dreamer, The Sleuth, The Warrior, The Enthusiast, The Trailblazer, The Activist, and The Luminary. Participants begin by taking a comprehensive quiz to identify which legend best reflects their personal strengths and characteristics.
Once the girls discovered their corresponding legends, they were equipped with point-and-shoot cameras to begin their photographic exploration. "Each week, they got a prompt about taking photographs of their life using the lens as their legend to find the qualities that make them the strongest," Fulger detailed. This approach encourages the participants to view their world through the specific perspective of their identified archetype, helping them recognize and celebrate their unique qualities.
Fulger brings a wealth of experience from her successful career in Hollywood, where she worked as an actress, writer, and producer. A 1974 graduate of Lakewood High School, she appeared in popular television shows including "Anything But Love," "thirtysomething," and "Ellen," as well as the Disney Channel movie "Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century." After decades in the entertainment industry, she returned to Northeast Ohio approximately five years ago and now resides in Westlake.
The connection between Fulger and the young participants goes beyond mentorship. "I see my younger self in the teenagers," she shared. "Their understanding of their worlds, what they love, their families and who they are -- it's so amazing to see." This personal connection has made the experience particularly meaningful for both the founder and the participants.
The photography project has exceeded expectations in terms of the girls' engagement and artistic development. "It's just been the coolest thing to work with these girls and see them start to understand how to express themselves through photography. I'm just so excited for this exhibit, and so are they," Fulger enthusiastically noted.
Beyond artistic expression, the exhibition serves multiple purposes in supporting the participants' futures. The photo display includes a donation component specifically designated for scholarship funding, ensuring that the girls' creative work can directly contribute to their educational opportunities. Additionally, Fulger hopes to introduce the participants to photography as a potential career path, expanding their understanding of professional possibilities in the creative field.
"I want them to see that photography can be a career," Fulger emphasized. "It's an art form, and their points of view and their voices are important." This message reinforces the program's core mission of empowering young women to recognize their value and potential in both artistic and professional contexts.
