Egyptian photographer Heba Khamis has won first prize in the contemporary issues section of the 2018 World Press Photo competition for her “Banned Beauty” project, becoming the third Egyptian photographer to win the award. Khamis’ project captures images of Cameroon’s young girls who are subjected to “breast ironing,” a traditional practice that involves “massaging or pressing the breasts of pubescent girls in order to suppress or reverse breast development.” The practice is carried out in hopes to delay maturity and prevent rape.
Egyptian photographer wins World Press Photo award for ‘Banned Beauty’ project