MODERN FAIRY TALES by Viktorija Pashuta

Los Angeles-based fashion photographer Viktorija Pashuta is known for creating concept viral photo shoots that gain worldwide exposure and buzz in social media. Famous for her conceptualized series ‘What If Cars Were Supermodels’, ‘What if Guys Were Social Networks‘ and ‘What if Girls Were Internet Browsers‘ published in VOGUE, Esquire, Buzzfeed, Ads of the World, Complex to name a few  that gained more than 2 billion hits online – she has just released her new project for the Anniversary Edition of BASIC magazine “Modern Fairy Tales”.

Nine models transformed into beloved fairy-tale characters like Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Cinderella, Little Mermaid, Mulan, Tiana from Princess and The Frog, Aurora the Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine from Aladdin, Belle from Beauty and The Beast, Pocahontas, Rapunzel and Cleopatra – to embody femininity and revive the childhood dream of being a princess.

Viktorija explains, “Our world, especially nowadays with so much negativity, division, hatred, fear and unjustified hype, needs more beauty, more dreaming, more empowerment. With this photo series I hoped to put my energy into female characters that went through some life adversities, yet persevered and managed to find happiness, love, strength and self-confidence. Each of the characters has been played out in many ways before, but I wanted to create a completely new visuals – combining everyone’s known fairy-tale characters and fashion, but in a more whimsical way, visually showing them more colorful, dreamy and positive rather than sexy or dark how it is usually shown in fashion.”

She adds that in order to create this project it took a wonderful and dedicated team of professionals to reimagine these famous characters through styling, hair and makeup. “Ksenia Kim – NAHA award-winning hair stylist really outdid herself when she came up with intricate and sophisticated hair styles for each character, tons and tons of hair and unusual accessories (like baby feathers on Tiana or real star fish on Ariel) was involved in mastering each look in the way that it still is recognizable as a fairy-tale character, but at the same time shows something different that you have not seen before.”

“Makeup artists Nata Strilchuk, Kseniya Bernkhard and Tatiyana Elias conjured on the glam of these beauties to keep them authentic to their original characters, but to also bring a new light to a different side – she adds, – “like a structured broken liner on Pocahontas eyes, or teal under-brow liner for Tiana or unexpected red lip for Ariel, it all was meticulously planned to invoke some emotions of surprise.”

Styling played a huge role in this project, with the help of Ambika Sanjana – the story shaped into one wonderful book of wonders.

Presented by Siete Cielos

Photographer Viktorija Pashuta @viktorija_pashuta
Photos Editing Anil Saxena @anildigitalartist
Styled by Ambika Sanjana @styledbyambika
Producer Jackson Chong @jacksonchong_
Jewelry Stylist Lana Vavrishchuk @aarnika
Models: Sabina Kravchenko, Laken Romine, Jolie x Liu, Whitney Mercy, Janelle Gray, Greta Tuckute, Brookel Barber
Makeup Artist Tatiyana Elias @tatiyanaelias
Makeup Artist Kseniya Bernkhardt @k.hart.muah
Makeup Artist Nata Strilchuk @natastrilchuk
Hair Stylist Ksenia Kim @hairbyksenia
Hair Stylist Assistant Artur Zurnachyan @zurnachyanartur
Photo Assistant Jathan Campbell

Special Thank you McLaren USA

Skincare by Olecea @oleceabeaute