For Sagrada Feminidad, Jewelry Is an Act of Resistance Lensed by Alina Gross

For Sagrada Feminidad, Jewelry Is an Act of Resistance Lensed by Alina Gross

For Sagrada Feminidad, Jewelry Is an Act of Resistance Lensed by Alina Gross

Sagrada Feminidad [IG] is a Mexican jewelry brand that reclaims and celebrates sacred femininity through bold, handcrafted designs.

Founded over 5 years ago by Cynthia Cortes, each piece — or amulet — is a tribute to the female body, created to honor its power, sensuality, and mystery. Using atypical words to describe jewelry DNA, Cortes’ creations also honor “autonomy, joy and endurance”.

In these images for Sagrada Feminidad, photographer Alina Gross features the tattooed, sun-baked skin of an older woman, a gesture that acknowledges the life experiences and likely-held values of she who embraces and expresses a deep sensuality at an advanced age.

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A History of Courtesans Thru the Lens of Louboutin Beauty's 2025 Rouge Stiletto Vinyl Gloss Campaign

A History of Courtesans Thru the Lens of Louboutin Beauty's 2025 Rouge Stiletto Vinyl Gloss Campaign

A Global History of Courtesans Thru the Lens of Louboutin Beauty

Today we return to Mesopotamia, asking about the rise of courtesans. Was it a worldwide role for select women, a role crossing many different global cultures but with compatible definitions?

In Mesopotamia Temple priestesses, often referred to as "sacred prostitutes," were involved in religious rites, highlighting a blend of the sacred and the secular that involved sexual service as part of worship. . . These practices are mentioned in the Code of Hammurabi, which provides one of the earliest written references to women who engaged in such roles.

In Greece The concept of the courtesan emerged more distinctly in Greece. . . In India Ancient texts in India also offer early textual evidence of courtesans, with references in ancient texts such as the Arthashastra and the Kamasutra . . . In China The origins of courtesans can be traced back to the Zhou Dynasty, which lasted from approximately 1046 to 256 BC . . . In Italy The origins of courtesanship can be traced back to a complex interplay of social, economic, and cultural factors that emerged during the Renaissance.

In America Yes, there is a record of courtesans in America. But AOC needs to catch up with the facts. After reading about white women courtesans in urban cities like New York and Chicago, we queried the story in New Orleans.

The findings were borderline extraordinary, and we will explain in our next deep dive into red lips women.

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More or Less Issue 8: What Our Love of Plants and Flowers Tells Us About Our Politics

More or Less Issue 8: What Our Love of Plants and Flowers Tells Us About Our Politics

More or Less Issue 8: What Our Love of Plants and Flowers Tells Us About Our Politics

Photographer Carlijn Jacobs [IG] captures models Sascha Rajasulu and Yasmin Wijnaldumwalks in the natural world of ancestral traditions and conscious consumption for More or Less Magazine’s [IG] Issue 8.

In the Beginning . . . .

The first definitive evidence of flowers traces back to the Cretaceous period, around 130 million years ago, during a time when the Earth's climate and landscapes were undergoing significant change.

Prior to this floral revolution, vegetation was dominated by gymnosperms, ferns, and mosses. The advent of flowers introduced a new mechanism for pollination, often involving intricate interactions with the animal kingdom, particularly insects.

Human-Plant Interaction Studies Using Brain Science

Fast forward to now and human-invented technologies that explore these human-plant interactions. Modern-day researchers strive to understand the psychological and neurological impacts of plants on humans — including our brains.

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