Paper Magazine Essence Is Just Getting Started 2026

About

This striking black and white portrait features a Black woman with long, voluminous curly hair captured in motion against a plain corner wall. She wears a dark one-shoulder top paired with stacked metallic bangles on her wrists. Photographed by Jack Maffucci with fashion styling by Noah Diaz and makeup by Mollie Gloss, the image forms part of the Paper Magazine project Essence Is Just Getting Started. The high-contrast monochromatic lighting accentuates the dramatic textures of her hair and clothing while maintaining a clean, minimalist aesthetic.