This work explores the tension between identity formation, gendered gazes, and societal expectations in fitness culture for women.

By transforming gym selfies into coded images and transferring them onto mirrors, the project portrays how women in male-dominated fitness spaces reflect on their bodies and challenge traditional gender roles. The gym is not just a place for physical exercise, but also a space filled with gendered gazes and body commodification. Women often face societal pressures and expectations regarding the “ideal” female body, which can conflict with their pursuit of bodily autonomy and strength.

 

The mirror, altered through digital images, serves not only as a reflective tool but also as a symbol of how women can break free from traditional definitions of gender, strength, and the body. Combined with an open gym bag, the work emphasises how women challenge and transcend gender roles while reshaping their bodies, offering deep reflections on gender, strength, and self-identity.