The exhibition is held at Jinshan E-cool in Liangjiang New Area. [Photo by Cattleya studio/provided to english.liangjiang.gov.cn]

A subtle nervousness overtook Tao Yujie when she took a deep breath and said "I love me" in front of the camera for a female art program. It is a program she joined as a sort of closure for her painful past.

The art program "I love me, love your authentic self" shoots and exhibits portraits of 43 females of different ages and professions. "We intend to send a strong message that women can accept their authentic selves, love themselves more, and find inner strength," said He Li, who launched the program.

The concept of "accepting your authentic self" is what convinced Tao to sign up. Majored in music performance, Tao has never felt confident about her appearance or voice since college. In 2012, she won a third-place prize in a beauty pageant before falling victim to cyber-bullying. A myriad of internet users labeled her "the ugliest Miss Chongqing" based on one badly taken photo, completely ignoring her talent in piano and dancing.

After the incident, Tao started working behind the scenes, as she developed a fear of being on camera and struggled with depression. Last year, she took another hit from a failed relationship and started pursuing change with psychiatric help.

"For years, I felt anxious and unhappy about how I looked, thinking I have a flat nose, an imperfect jawline, I'm not skinny enough, and more. And I tried so hard to be recognized and to get a sense of security from others. Last year, I finally realized that I had never seen what I really needed, and that a sense of security or strength doesn't come from others, it comes from within," Tao said.

She used to define beauty as delicate facial features, exquisite makeup, and a well-shaped body. "But I learned from my trainees that beauty comes in all forms and confidence makes one radiant," said Tao, who runs a modeling school for all ages.

At the shooting site, Tao faced the camera without makeup for the first time. She was uncomfortable and insecure at first, but this eased gradually as she was encouraged by the photographer to tell her story and feelings over the years.

"I want to be seen as who I really am rather than what others expect me to be. I was relieved when the shooting was done, moving on from the past and feeling fearless. I realized that I didn't love myself enough when I said 'I love me,' and I almost cried," said Tao.

Every participant of the shooting will face the camera and say "I love me." The idea is to encourage females to love themselves for who they really are and see their inner strength, said He Li.

He came across many females whose kindness and courage inspired her. "I know a woman who got cancer nine years ago and the doctor said she only had two years to live. She has never given up on herself and keeps encouraging her peers to fight the disease. There is also a ride-hailing driver who has been volunteering to drive a stranger to the hospital for dialysis for a long time. There are so many of them, contributing what they can to make the world a better place," He said.

As a photographer herself, He believes that the camera captures not only the current moment, but also the significance that each moment carries.

"Each moment is a part of what she has been through, her current state of mind, and how she feels. That is where the beauty and strength of women lie, and that is what we want to capture and present in the program. When I saw Yujie with a relieved smile through the camera lens, I saw her growth after all these years and the strength inside her," He said.

(This article was written by Guo Shuyu, Liangjiang New Area Media Center)