THE LOTUS FLOWER

“Áo Dài, Vietnam's traditional costume, symbolizes the elegance and purity of Vietnamese women, especially when it is white.

In Vietnam, Lotus is the national flower. Through mud and grime, it shows off its shape and color. Vietnamese people view the lotus as a symbol of beauty triumphing over darkness.

Áo Dài and lotus flowers are closely related to women's struggles in this society, in my opinion. In order to prove ourselves capable, women must rise above stereotypes and the heavy judgment of beauty without being sexualized, without the expectation of motherhood or upbringing in a domestic mindset.” Chi Pham ( Jaclyn Pham)