Capturing Our Ancestral Roots One Portrait At A Time

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A statement of strength, beauty, and culture, those are just a few of the words used to describe Black hair.

With a deeply complex history spanning generations, many have wrestled with insecurity and pressure surrounding the natural textures of their kinks and coils.

It’s that very struggle that inspired Bahamian photographer Torell Glinton to create a visual project steeped in ancestral pride, titled The Kinky Project.

Torell Glinton – Creator, The Kinky Project
“The initial idea came from me just remembering my sister having to get her hair straightened with the hot comb and her screaming when she got burned. And being a boy, I never understood that, my hair was fine, I just had to get a haircut. In 2014, going natural was becoming more common and I wanted to embrace that. I thought it was so beautiful, women embracing their natural hair and doing all sorts of stuff with it. It was beautiful to me.”

Since its launch in 2014, new portraits have been added to The Kinky Project every other year, creating a growing body of work that pays tribute to the natural beauty of Black hair.

This year’s exhibition, titled Full Circle, debuted at the “Yall Space” Center on Carmichael Road. The display features stunning, high-detail images of natural hairstyles, each photograph titled with intention, capturing the essence of both the subject and the artist behind the lens.

One standout portrait, named Crown, features the luxurious natural hair of Latoya McKinney. She says being part of the project was an honor, and she hopes her image encourages individuality and pride among women.

Latoya McKinney – Model
“Initially when I started my natural hair journey, it was a sign of strength and slightly defiance. It was at a point in time when everyone was saying you need to get a perm, and so there was always this negative connotation around it. And because I was slightly defiant, I was like, I’m not going to get a perm.”

Another powerful addition to this year’s exhibit was a mother-daughter portrait titled Moonwalkers and Mothers, featuring Desdemona Downes and her daughter Omari, this year’s only family pair.

Desdemona says when she learned about the project through her sister, it was important to her not only to attend the show but to have her daughter participate in a celebration that honors their roots.

Desdemona Downes – Model
“It was really important for me to make sure she saw herself in a way that was powerful and positive. Being a dark-skinned, brown-skinned girl with natural kinky hair, growing up, that was difficult for us. I remember not enjoying having it pressed, not being satisfied with it relaxed. So when I found natural hair for myself, it was really a breakthrough experience, a powerful one, and I want to share that with her as early as possible.”

The Kinky Project continues to grow as a bold, artistic tribute to the legacy of Black hair, capturing not only style but the stories, strength, and spirit behind every curl.