My name is Mihaela Noroc, I'm a Romanian photographer who's been travelling the world for the past 4 years with my backpack and my camera, photographing everyday women and collecting their stories. My project is called The Atlas of Beauty.
My goal is to show that every woman shines like a star because beauty is diversity, and not just what we see in mass-media.
For me, the real beauty has no age, colours or trends. You can find it in Africa or in Europe, in a village or in a skyscraper, in a smile, in a gesture, in an intense gaze, in some wrinkles, or in a story. You can find it in every kind-hearted human being.
Now The Atlas of Beauty becomes a stunning book with more that 500 portraits and many interesting stories. In a time of hate and intolerance, I want to send a message about love and acceptance. I hope this book will get into many homes around the world, convincing more people that diversity is a treasure and not a trigger for conflicts and hate. We are very different but at the same time we are all part of the same family.
#21 Belgian With Polish Origins
Ania dreams to compete in the Paralympic Games.
196points
#22 Tibetan Plateau
Among the most graceful women I encountered, this Tibetan mother of two in a rural village looked like this the moment she opened her door to me; she had been cleaning her house, and yet she was wearing her jewelry.
194points
#23 Timisoara, Romania
Alice was celebrating her high school graduation.
186points
#24 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
She's wearing a deel, which is a traditional outfit commonly seen in Mongolia.
182points
#25 Syria
I met this young Yazidi girl from Syria in a refugee camp from the Kurdistan Region in Iraq. Hasa was feeling fortunate that she’s alive and has the chance to study. Unfortunately she lost six of her small cousins when Isis attacked her village in Syria.
180points
#26 Kathmandu, Nepal
We live in a beautiful world and diversity is one of our greatest gifts. In the same time, this world became much more intolerant towards diversity, in the last years. But don't lose hope! I've seen with my own eyes during my travels that there's much more kindness in this world, than hate. We just have to notice it, share it with others and make this world a better place for our children.
170points
#27 Chichicastenango, Guatemala
Many women of the world carry great burdens every day, either literally or figuratively. And they do it, like this lovely woman, with so much tenderness and positivity. I met her in January, in Chichicastenango, a small town from Guatemala.
169points
#28 Paris, France
Imane has African and European origins and dreams to open an art gallery for artists from all over the world.
166points
#29 Milan, Italy
The daughter, Caterina, is a ballerina and her biggest supporter is her mother, Barbara.
165points
#30 Guatemala
A beautiful family dressed in stunning outfits made by the mother.
165points
#31 Tbilisi, Georgia
Natia, from Tbilisi, Georgia, studies Law and wishes to become a criminalist. She told me that her dream is to work for the FBI someday. In the meantime she already gained a scholarship and works in this coffee shop for a living.
152points
#32 Istanbul, Turkey
Pinar is a theater actress. While she loves playing different roles on stage, in real life, she adores being herself, natural and free.
148points
#33 Cuenca, Ecuador
A moment of tenderness at the food market.
148points
#34 Berlin, Germany
This German young woman travels as much as she can. Her loved ones are spread all over the world and she is still searching for a place where she would love to live.
147points
#35 Idomeni, Greece
I met this brave mother of three children last year in Idomeni Refugee Camp from Greece. She escaped from her hometown in Iraq, which was under ISIS’s control. She traveled a long road to Europe with her children, spending all her savings, in hope of a safer life.
144points
#36 Jodhpur, India
While traveling in India, almost two years ago, I noticed that trains are the country’s vital circulatory system. They transport more than twenty million people every day. Just imagine twenty million fascinating stories! I wanted to hear hers but the train left after a few seconds from Jodhpur Station.
133points