Denuelle

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]oes it sound strange when I say that I have a little bit of a crush on all my Bloomers? All the portraits that I take in my studio, choose and edit behind my computer, and eventually publish within the project are a piece of myself. 

The project grows to my heart and sometimes takes a spontaneous side-turn that I had not imagined myself. Like the 3 women who posed nude with pride and self-love during the last photoshoot. I am so proud of all my Bloomers, they not only inspire me, they inspire so many women with their strength and beauty.

This is Denuelle. When she walked into the studio, I thought momentarily that she was lost… Like; wrong studio girl, this is a project for women over 40. It took me a second to realize that, like my beautiful friend Dayenne, this gorgeous woman will probably never get one wrinkle in her face. The same birth year as mine, 1975, only Denuelle looks like she is 25, and I look like I am 45… ? 

I don’t think I’ve ever been jealous of another woman in my life. Of course, I sometimes think: damn, why don’t I have long, thick blond hair with a natural blow? Yes, oh well, bad luck, I don’t have such hair, and I will never get it unless I wear a wig. Or those beautiful round buttocks? I used to be so insecure about my flat butt; nowadays, I laugh about my flatties, and I am happy to sit on them.

Celebrating women’s beauty is a triumph for me. Discovering the things you miss in yourself in the beauty of another woman completes the whole. Complementing each other is what sisterhood is ultimately all about—loving, appreciating, cheering, and accepting ourselves and others.

Jealousy is when you count someone else’s blessing instead of your own.

Tell us what you’d like us to know about yourself:

Iam Denuelle, and I am 45 years old. I am a single mom of two wonderful boys. I ran my own business until COVID-19 messed it all up. I recently had to close the doors of my shop. Right now I am thinking about what I want to do next.

Here’s a fun fact: I have known Dayenne Bekker (your best friend) since I was a kid. Her mother is best friends with my mother. Dayenne and I have known each other for a long time and very well.

Oh, and yes, I am scared that there is currently a nude portrait of me on Instagram and on this website! But although I find it scary, I am proud of myself and my body.

What can you tell us about love?

Love grows with you as you get older. Love is pure, and that’s how I experience it. Whether it’s is a love affair between two partners or between friends. Once you cross my line, then it’s over. May sound very black and white, but this is how I grew into it as I got older.

Childhood memories that made you into the woman you are today?

As a child, I learned to trust myself and make sure I could save myself in this world. I was raised by a single mother together with 2 brothers. Although my mother did not always have an easy time, partly due to health issues, I did not experience it that way. I never had the idea of falling short and been raised with lots of love. If I can only give a fraction of this love to my children, then I am blessed.