Women Pose Nude To Celebrate Winning Their Battles Against Cancer

Breast cancer survivors have revealed their strength and beauty in a powerful new photo series that sees them posing nude, bravely baring their mastectomy scars.

Shot by photographer Isis Charise, the striking images in Grace reveal the raw resilience of these woman as they emulate figures of antiquity like Athena and Venus.

'It is my hope that these images create a doorway that leads to further acceptance of the post mastectomy body,' she explained. 'Not only for women who live with the challenge of breast cancer, but also for their partners, families and caregivers.'

In one of the photos called the Empress, an elderly woman basks in the sunlight outdoors with a scarf placed strategically across her lap. 

Another, which is named Birth of Venus, sees a woman standing on a stone bench with one leg crossed in front of the other and her hands crossed on her chest, mimicking the pose from the Botticelli painting.

'Venus was the goddess of beauty,' the photographer explains on her Facebook page. 'And a person could view the mastectomy experience as a rebirth.'

Ms Charise told MailOnline that she chose to have her models pose like goddesses and mythical figures to highlight their similarities.

'The Venus Di Milo came to mind,' she said. 'I had always pondered the fact that one of the objects in the world that we consider to represent ultimate beauty had no arms, and yet we still view her as the pinnacle of beauty.

'Also the Nike of Samothrace, delicate and even more beautiful in her brokenness,' she added.

'I considered that if I photographed my subjects within this classical context in mind, that it would create a window for both the subject and the viewer to access a place of acceptance and beauty.'

She adds on her website that these 'dismembered artifacts have survived the trauma of history and are still valued as objects of beauty within our culture.'

In a photo she has named Eponina, a breast cancer survivor lies down in the fetal position, a grey blanket underneath her in a circular shape, forming a halo.

Another image sees a woman bravely exposing the scars on her breasts as she holds the plaster of a woman's chest.

Ms Charise - who has worked for years as a professional boudoir and pin-up photographer - was inspired to create her Grace series after a man called and asked if she'd do a shoot for his wife.

'The day of the shoot a gorgeous and vivacious woman turned up to the shoot determined to remain clothed through the shoot,' recalled Ms Charise.

'I had no qualms with that. A boudoir shoot is about expressing a sensual side of yourself, not necessarily being naked. 

'After some time into the shoot she confessed to me that she was a 12-year breast cancer survivor and that she was ashamed of one of her breasts which is why she wanted to keep it covered.'

As the shoot went on, the woman continued to cover her scarred breast until she finally decided to let go of her shame.

'There she was laying on the couch in all of her glory when suddenly she threw off her clothes and said "F*** it!  I'm doing this for myself!' explained Ms Charise.

'In that moment I witnessed a woman who had carried 12 years of shame surrounding her body let go and accept herself, scarred breast and all as she was.

'It was an incredibly powerful and cathartic moment for both of us.'

Ms Charise's ongoing project has received much positive feedback, and she's currently raising money through NYFA to photograph more women with the help of donations.

'You certainly are doing a great job,' one person commented on her website.  'I bow to these wonderful women that have come forward and been photographed, their bravery and beauty is something incredible. 'They are very special women.'