‘The only sportswomen we see in the mainstream media are elite athletes. But at the grassroots level, there are people of all shapes and sizes’
There’s this idea that the best stories are somewhere else, but actually we’ve got great stories on our doorsteps. I was born in Birmingham and I’ve lived here most of my life. I’ve travelled for work, but I’m a Brummie through and through and love celebrating where I’m from. Taking portraits allows me to connect with people, amplify their voices and challenge the narrative.
I first photographed Mav, who runs the Women’s Boxing Club in Digbeth, in 2018 for my project People, Place and Sport. When I returned in 2021, she’d had a baby and we talked about juggling motherhood and our passions for sport and photography. Then there’s her day job. She studied law at university, specialising in human rights, and previously worked as a police officer.