What Makes Mara Alive?

True personal style is rarely just about aesthetics. It asserts identity and independence. In this street portrait session, we stop to talk with Mara in Exeter about the power of live music, pushing past social boundaries, and the freedom that comes with standing up for who you are.

For Mara, feeling alive is tied directly to sound, energy, and shared experiences in loud, vibrant spaces:

"I feel like music. I really enjoy going to like gigs & live music... I get to meet a lot of new people. I also get to explore new music styles that I might have not heard before. And it's just fun in general. I really like hustle & bustle & everything being really loud."

Her striking, colourful aesthetic didn't come without personal battles. Claiming ownership over her own look required standing her ground and pushing against external expectations:

"The constant battle with my mum over how I look, because up until maybe I was 12, I was not allowed to do anything with my hair whatsoever, but I've been fighting with my mum over it for a really long time & as you can see, I'm very proud of how it came out."

Leaving us with a practical challenge, Mara encourages everyone to break routine and lean into unexpected daily interactions:

"Go out of your comfort zone to meet new people. Say hi, try talking to your barista or whoever. I was really amazed by how many different people I got to know because of that. They have been very great friends for me for a really long time now, so you should definitely do that no matter how scary it looks."