Cassandra and Lilith is a series shot by emerging photographer Liana Mostafa with collaborative creative direction by Liana, Anarchy Studios and Eliza Beecroft.

The shoot aims to subvert the narrative that aesthetics of softness, femininity and innocence are reserved for white women - for example, the popular 'Cottagecore' aesthetic - featuring two women of colour portrayed in this traditionally feminine way.

Working with beautiful tulle gowns by Bella Nude and an entire team on set of women of colour, with models Chioma Okoro and Eliza Beecroft, Liana aimed to show that people of colour in art and media do not have to be constrained to a particular aesthetic. Something particularly prevalent with Black women in art.

Liana describes this shoot as an embodiment of her 'disobedience' as a photographer - working with other women of colour in portraying women of colour in ways which are rarely represented by the media.

Location: Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh

Models: Chioma Okoro - represented by Tartan Models - (Instagram: @oko_oma)

Eliza Beecroft (Instagram: @eliza_l_beecroft)

MUA: Kala Williams - (Instagram: @makeupbykala_)

Stylists: Anarchy Studios (Instagram: @_anarchystudios), Eliza Beecroft

Creative Directors: Anarchy Studios, Liana Mostafa, Eliza Beecroft

Featured Designers: Bella Nude (tulle dress and top) (Instagram: @bellanude_) Jeneral Store (organza scrunchies and purse) (Instagram: @jeneralstoreuk) Rebecca Wilson Ceramics (candy jewellery) (Instagram: @eatme_keepme) Silk Purse, Sow’s Ear (brass jewellery) (Instagram: @silkpursesowsear)

About Liana

She/her

Liana Mostafa is a queer, South Asian photographer based in Edinburgh, specialising in Editorial, Fashion and Lifestyle photography. While her style is versatile and ever-evolving, she has a soft spot for floral and feminine visuals in her work. She is currently in her final year of studying Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science BSc at the University of Edinburgh, and is working towards eventually doing photography full time.

Instagram: @Liana.photo

Words by Sabrina Sigler (Editor) and Liana Mostafa