These young women have been such a joy to photograph over the last year! It’s always so much fun to watch them gain confidence and become more comfortable with themselves. With a camera it’s easy to show them how outwardly beautiful they are but I don’t want them to lose focus on the inner qualities that make them truly special. Each of them have very different talents, skills, and traits that make them valuable to the world. If they take nothing else away from MOD Squad I hope they remember that. Ladies, thank you for being brave in trusting the process and for being so incredibly inspiring!

This is Project Beauty 2020: No makeup, no Photoshop, all for charity.

Shelby

Who inspires you? My mom inspires me because she does so much for us and always puts us first. She cares for me and is my best friend. Our relationship is something I won’t take for granted and something I am very thankful for.

What quality/skill/talent makes you special? How does this impact those around you? I’m very compassionate, honest, and show leadership. I try to always make those around me happy. We walk past people who are followers everyday, I want to be a good leader for them to follow right behind me.

What organization did you choose to support and why? Haven of the Ozarks. I wanted the organization to be local and I think it is very important to give to animal shelters. I’ve always had a love for animals and know they can bring happiness to all homes.

What are you grateful for? I am grateful for my family and the lord. My family is my rock. Always there for me and have given me a great life to live. The lord is always watching over me and blessing me beyond measures.

Reagan

Who inspires you? My dad is my biggest inspiration. He’s hard working and hilarious. Even when my mom died, he didn’t stop being there for me and my brother. He’s the best dad out there!

What quality/skill/talent makes you special? How does this impact those around you? My ability to be empathetic makes me special. Whenever someone needs a ear to listen, I’m there. You never know what is going on in someone’s life. Just simply letting them know you are there for them can do so much.

What organization did you choose to support and why? I chose Lost and Found Grief Center because they are always there for my family. They’ve helped my family so much on our grief journey. Everyone at Lost and Found is so kind and happy to help.

What are you grateful for? I am grateful for my family. Without them, I don’t know what I would do.

Betime

Who inspires you and why? My mom is great a inspiration to me. She is the most selfless, caring, strongest, smart, and beautiful person I know. I am grateful to have such an amazing person in my life.

What quality/skill/talent makes you special? How does this impact those around you? One quality that makes me special is that I always put others' needs and wants before mine. This impacts others around me because I try to help out as many people as I can and make a positive impact in my environment.

What organization did you choose to support and why? I chose to support the organization of Convoy of Hope. There was an opportunity that was offered through National Honor Society that allowed me to go to the Convoy of Hope and help the organization bag up food that would be later delivered to famished people.

What are you grateful for? I am grateful for my family, friends, health, education, job, and life. I am grateful that everyone in my life are such positive influences and that I have such a strong support network. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to get an education. I am grateful that my family and friends (along with myself) are healthy and happy.

Cherokee

Who inspires you? My older sister, Monica because she has always showed me that you don’t need to depend on a man to be happy. She has come through so much, like adversity and has always stood strong on her own two feet. She joined the Air Force after so many people told her she would never make it, and is now stationed in Italy two years later. I am beyond proud of the woman she has become.

What quality/skill/talent makes you special? How does this impact those around you? My ability to never give up. I have went through a lot of difficult stuff and never stopped pushing through it. I think this draws a lot of attention to myself from others because it helps set a good example.

What are you grateful for? I’m grateful for all the support I get from my family and friends. About two years ago I was in a very difficult situation and I never thought I would be happy again. My friends and family helped push me through it and today I am the happiest I could ever be. I’m also super grateful for having such an amazing photographer that has put up with me this year ;)

What organization did you choose to support and why? The Wounded Warriors Program. I chose this program because my sister and a very close friend of mine are veterans and I would want people to help them if they needed it.

Shaye

Who inspires you? The person who inspires me would be my mom. She always tells me how proud she is of me. I am always striving to accomplish the goals that are most important to me and she is always right there with me, encouraging me and supporting me. I used to always want to be as fun and loving as her. I wanted to be able to sing like her and I feel like she has definitely inspired me to become a better singer.

What quality/skill/talent makes you special? How does this impact those around you? I would say that a quality I have would be being able to be friends with everyone. I am very friendly and I do not like leaving people out or not giving them a chance. I have had many people tell me that I am the type of person to include everyone, no matter what others think of them. I feel like this impacts those around me because it helps bring people together to get to know the people that they hadn't gave a chance at first.

What organization did you choose to support and why? Marionville school fire relief, I choose to support this bc I wanted to give back local. I wanted to help this classroom get the things they needed and lost. I love children and education is so important.

What are you grateful for? I am grateful for my family. Without them I would not be where I am now. I would not have had the opportunities I have been given. They always show me love even when I am at my lowest points. They are the people that you can tell anything to without them judging you. I am grateful to have such a great family who pushes me to be my best and would do anything to help me achieve even my toughest goal. It's the people who you know love you without them having to tell you that I am the most grateful for. The people who support my dreams and tell me to chase it because they believe in me.