This shoot reimagines viola davis a the black madonna/ athena. Athena is the greek goddess of wisdom. Birthed fully clothed in armor from the head of her father zeus, athena, from the onset, represents survival dispite unbeatable odds (zeus swallowed his pregnant wife in order to not be overthown by his offspring). Representing justice, triumph and wisdom, athena rules with grace and clarity, often aiding and protecting young warriors (odysseus, hercules, perseus, achil-les, etc) on their paths of self-discovery; a role many black women play in the lives of their sons, brothers, and partners. The black madonna figure mirrors the athena archetype in many ways. The pure virgin mother mary, queen of heaven, is one aspect of the divine feminine archetype. She is primarily associated with the protective maternal aspect of the feminine. A lesser known representation is the black madonna, queen of the earth, associated with empowerment, transformation and change., The black madonna guides us through our darkness and represents the inner process of transforma-tion. Her blackness has been attributed to the accumulated smoke from votive candles of the faithful, or the dark-skinned inhabitants of the holy land. Who is 2020's black athena/madonna? Viola davis. Her athenian struggle-to survive and overcome seemingly impossible odds-manifests in her keen sense of justice and equity; using her platform to uplift and empower others, and providing representation for an previously invisible group of women. As the black madonna, she represents the necessary wrestling with one's dark-ness; transmuting powerful emotions into radiance. These are the guiding thoughts of this shoot: with bold, graphic, and heroic imagery that reinforces her strength, beauty, and power... Traits she earned. A modern athena, with fashion that reflects her godliness, bold accessories that relect her power, makeup that reflects her beauty, topped with an afro as her crown of glory.