By: Sky Braun, MFM Editor/Writer, (Instagram: @skybfree)
During NYFW I had the pleasure of meeting with fellow artist/photographer, Chad Cosper. As we walked through Soho in downtown Manhattan, he shared a project with me. It’s called “Climbing Walls,” and features Kentucky-residing Ekaterina Estes as the model. She is also officially the next “Spotlight Model” in MFM’s October issue, explained in a brief, yet powerful blurb that was also contributed by friend and artist, Chad Cosper:
“Deep in the heart of Bluegrass Country, lie remnants of America's darker past. Remains of 200 year old, ‘slave walls’ adorn the Kentucky landscape and serve as reminders of slave culture in the deep south. In the 1800's, black slave laborers became expert craftsmen in the art of building these beautiful fences with skills learned from Irish Immigrants. Although slavery was outlawed in America in the 1860's, it remains as one of our fastest growing epidemics. The global rise of human trafficking for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation enslave an estimated 27 million people across the globe. Kentucky model, Ekaterina Estes is bringing awareness to these issues. Ekaterina was born in Russia, in a rundown shack, to an alcoholic mother. At two days old she was left on the doorstep of a Russian orphanage. Although cared for, Ekaterina would later learn that other children in her orphanage generally faced one of two fates in life. Children were either adopted, or were released to the streets at 13 years old where most were bought and sold on the black-market and became victims of human trafficking. Fortunately, Ekaterina was adopted by a loving American family. Although life here in America hasn't been perfect, Ekaterina beat the odds, and escaped becoming a statistic. For many people around the world, the issue of human trafficking is very real. For more information about modern day slavery and how you can help in the fight, visit www.beautifuldream.tv or www.A21.org .”
