These Four Women Are The Most Kick-Ass Superheroes In NYC
Paola Mathe and her superhero squad take to the streets of NYC in one of the most badass photo shoots of the year.
Photos by @underground_nyc. All images courtesy of Paola Mathe / Finding Paola.
<p><strong><a href="https://instagram.com/findingpaola/" target="_blank">Paola Mathe</a></strong> is the New York-based, Haitian-rooted designer, entrepreneur and <a href="http://findingpaola.com/" target="_blank">lifestyle blogger</a> behind <a href="http://www.okayafrica.com/news/fanm-djanm-paola-mathe-headwrap-lookbook/" target="_blank"><strong>Fanm Djanm</strong></a>, an African-inspired headwrap brand dedicated to strong women around the globe. Recently, Mathe took to the New York streets with an all-girl team of crimefighters for one of the most kickass shoots we’ve seen all year.</p><p>She says the superhero idea came to her while she was taking a shower one night. It was then that she texted a group of friends, <strong><a href="https://instagram.com/caxmee/" target="_blank">Mama Càx</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://instagram.com/kristiatolode/" target="_blank">Kristia Tolode</a></strong> and <a href="https://instagram.com/nicholawola/" target="_blank"><strong>Nichole Washington</strong></a>. “I told them, I wanted to be a superhero, but I didn’t want to be alone and I needed their help,” Mathe <a href="http://findingpaola.com/a-new-squad-of-superheroes/" target="_blank">writes</a>. “I had a whole story, and the more I thought about it, the clearer it came. They all immediately agreed to join me in my superhero adventure, so I texted a photographer friend of mine to confirm our underground shoot.”</p><p><div class="preroll-video"></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p>And so, <strong><a href="https://instagram.com/underground_nyc" target="_blank">Aaron Pegg</a></strong>–famous for his stylish photographs from New York’s undergrounds–joined the superhero squad in the depths of NYC’s subway system.</p><p>“I showed up at Hudson Yards subway station that night feeling more powerful than ever,” Mathe writes. “Clad in black with layers of leggings, body suits, fringe gloves, and harnesses, we were ready to take the night! I was in character.”</p><p>Mathe says the idea came about because she likes to show how strong women are in pretty much anything. “My company, Fanm Djanm focuses on the strength of all women through African inspired fashion and headwraps,” she writes. This time, she says she wanted the focus to be on the modern black woman in today’s world.</p><p><div class="dfp_atf-slot" data-not-loaded="true"></div><script type="text/javascript">
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</script></p><p>“These women are inspiring badass dream catchers. They make me feel better just being around them. And we all accidentally had similar hair cuts!”</p><p><em>For more on the superhero shoot, head to Mathe’s blog, <a href="http://findingpaola.com/a-new-squad-of-superheroes/" target="_blank">Finding Paola</a>.</em></p><p></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="5" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><p></p><div style="padding: 8px;"><p></p><div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"></div><p></p><p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a href="https://instagram.com/p/9bWmbAxRsA/" style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Click the name in my bio for more photos! • In the dark shadows of the night where women's screams were unheard, and evil crept silently through back alleyways and hidden streets, four super heroes emerge to fight injustice and crime against women. #BadAssBaldies #MPCosplayContest #FindingPaola #BeingPaowerful #mamacax #halloweek @aahalloween #cosplay • @caxmee @kristiatolode @nicholawola • Photographer: @underground_nyc • Concept/Styling: @findingpaola • Jacket/belts: @katerinalankovaofficial</a></p><p></p><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A photo posted by www.findingpaola.com (@findingpaola) on <time datetime="2015-10-29T15:59:02+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 29, 2015 at 8:59am PDT</time></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p><script async="" defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></p><p></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="5" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);"><p></p><div style="padding: 8px;"><p></p><div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"></div><p> <a href="https://instagram.com/p/9beWF2RRqZ/" style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Click the link in my bio for more photos! • We fight for the women who are told their tears don't matter. Where the police hurts more than serves, and eating establishments are built just to shorten the lives of the community. We fight for the strong who have been stripped of their powers. We fight for the invisible. • This is my super hero story with @caxmee @nicholawola @kristiatolode • Photography: @underground_nyc • Concept/Styling: @findingpaola #FindingPaola #BeingPaowerful #superheroes #MPCosplayContest #BadAssBaldies #squadgoals #mamacax #halloweekend #aahalloween #cosplay</a> A photo posted by www.findingpaola.com (@findingpaola) on <time datetime="2015-10-29T17:06:43+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 29, 2015 at 10:06am PDT</time></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p><script async="" defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></p>
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