This month Russian Women and men, as well as the guest of the city, will get a chance to get into the world of “American Beauty”.  A photo exhibition dedicated to a growing phenomenon – Children Beauty Contests.  Each year over 25000 of such contests are held all over the US.  The rules of such contest stipulate that the participant should be under 18 years old. Though these children should look like adults – tanned, with heavy make-up, fake eye lashes and nails.

Danish photographer Laerke Posselt in her work focuses on the kids that are too young to know what they want and where it’s their parents that decide for them.

Posselt observes and takes pictures of three girls – Evi, Meddison and Sofia – during their everyday life and contests. The question raised in this series of photos are very deep: what kind of self-esteem will these girls have when they grow up; what kind of relationship will they have with their mothers that force them to be models and compete with each other at such a fragile age; what influence do these contests have on  girls’ emotional health…

Laerke is an independent photographer based in Copenhagen, Denmark. She has studied Art and Documentary Photography as well as Photojournalism. Her documentary work focuses on contemporary social issues in Denmark and abroad.

Lerke Posselt  took the first prize in the World Press Photo Contest in the category “Portraits” for her portrait of Mellica Mehraban,  she was also awarded the first prize in the Pictures of the Year International  contest as well as many others.