Breast cancer survivors' bodies are typically covered up and hidden under clothes -- as a means of hiding deep physical and psychological scars. New York City photographer Charise Isis wanted to create a tribute to the strength and beauty of survivors' bodies. So she created a photo series called "Grace," which calls upon some of history and mythology's most powerful women.


Isis had breast cancer survivors pose, scars and all, as the Venus di Milo, Cleopatra, Gaea, and Athena, baring their chests and bodies in a defiant and brave display.

"I loosely use Hellenic sculpture as a visual reference for the portraits," wrote Isis on her website. "These dismembered artifacts have survived the trauma of history and are still valued as objects of beauty within our culture." And so, too, are these breast cancer survivors.

"It is a project that speaks about the strength and beauty that women who have survived breast cancer possess," says Isis. "It is an exploration into the grace of their humanity." To find out more about the project, and to support Isis' work, check out the link. [Grace Project]