#freethenipples, a topless women's painted breast story (2014)

In Halloween of 2014, I attended the renowned Fantasy Fest event, an exuberant street celebration held annually during the last week of October in Key West, Florida. Amidst the imaginative costumes and lively atmosphere along Duval Street and beyond, I was struck by the abundance of topless women having their breasts painted. Their designs ranged from simple to elaborate works of art. Intrigued, I embarked on a photographic documentation project to explore the motivations behind these women's choice to go topless. Through conversations, I learned that many cited reasons like "Fun," "Freedom," "Feeling Liberated," "Feeling beautiful," and "Equality." Interestingly, these women were diverse in age and appearance, challenging societal norms about female nudity and sexuality. Despite legal restrictions in only three states, female toplessness remains stigmatized, highlighting a gender disparity and the nipple double standard in our society.