Bbeauty Editorial – The Female Samurai

This look was born from the desire to create something unique, and for the love of anime and Japanese culture. After studying their surroundings, dressing, and methods, fine art photographer Mariam Jibrin Usman, makeup artist Ruth Diana, and hairstylist Ufa Diana collaborated to create these portraits of a female samurai.

These portraits are representative of a few aspects of the Japanese Samurai culture.

While “Samurai” is a strictly masculine term, the Japanese bushi class (the social class samurai came from) did feature women who received similar training in martial arts and strategy. These women were called “Onna-Bugeisha,” and they were known to participate in combat along with their male counterparts. Their weapon of choice was usually the naginata, a spear with a curved, sword-like blade that was versatile, yet relatively light.

Mariam shared with Guardian Life about the process of creating this look for the female samurai;

“We took time to scout different models, looking for the “it” model that would fit this series, and we found Ruth. Her face was measured in order to draw the “red wings” on her eyes which took about 3-4 hours due to the fact that the first phase was to sketch an outline, the second phase was to apply the eyeshadow, third phase was to paint on the eyeshadow, fourth phase was to bleach the eyebrows and finally applying the lipstick. As for the hair a thin copper wire was braided into the hair in order to create the curve.”

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Creative Team

Photographer: Mariam Jibrin Usman

Makeup Artist: Ruth Diana

Model: Ruth Emuoboghare

Modelling Agency: GNG Modelling Agency

Hair: Ufa Diana