{UPDATE: Happy International Women’s Day. Yes, we’re more than just eye candy. The Calendar has officially launched, and is now available for print purchase or free download on Maryam Namazie’s site. Help support free expression: join the scream.}

I’m honoured to be part of a project called Nude Photo Revolutionaries.

In November of 2011, young Egyptian blogger Aliaa Elmahdy posted a nude photo of herself, and tweeted it out to the world under the hashtag, #NudePhotoRevolutionary:

“My name is Aliaa Elmahdy. I post under my real name #NudePhotoRevolutionary”

This was in protest to being veiled in a country ‘where women are nothing but sex objects harassed on a daily basis by men who know nothing about sex or the importance of a woman’. Aliaa’s words are

“screams against a society of violence, racism, sexism, sexual harassment and hypocrisy’.

Sparking outrage in the East, Elmahdy’s statement was both adored and reviled. London-based Iranian writer & human rights activist Maryam Namazie launched the Nude Photo Revolutionary project, a calendar that celebrates free expression. Along with designing the calendar {which will officially launch next week on International Women’s Day}, I’m also one of the submissions.

Styled and shot by Toronto-based Max+Gna, a sunny afternoon in Parkdale yielded some pretty nice photos. My final shot will be revealed, along with 12 other women from around the world, next week. I will post further links with details & calendar purchase info when they become available.