« Le Rêve de Cendrillon » au Brésil plonge dans les coulisses de la fabrication de la beauté, là où des adolescentes quittent leur ville ou leur village pour tenter leur chance devant l’œil des scouts et des agences. À travers castings, attentes dans des couloirs, poses improvisées dans des cuisines ou sur des toits, la série observe ce moment fragile où l’on promet à ces jeunes filles une vie de conte de fées, alors même que leurs corps deviennent une matière première à sélectionner, classer, vendre.
Entre fascination et malaise, ces images interrogent le fantasme "Cendrillon" transposé à l’industrie mondiale de la mode : que signifie “réussir sa vie” quand tout repose sur quelques centimètres de tour de taille, une lumière sur un visage, un regard capté au vol ? En suivant ces trajectoires au plus près, le travail cherche moins à juger qu’à regarder derrière le rideau – là où le rêve de métamorphose se mêle à la pression des familles, aux inégalités sociales et à la violence douce d’un système qui, sous couvert de glamour, décide qui sera visible et qui restera dans l’ombre.
Vitor in the taxi in Sao Paulo, going to meet Ming, an local scout. Brazil, june 2008.
Ming, the happy owner of a succesfull models agency in Sao Paulo, with two of his best "new girls", Gabriella and Ericka Fontes, 14. He's Thaï but is happy to have left and made a big success in Brazil and the US. He's tatooed two geïshas on his breast.
Ming and his girls, Sao Paulo, June 2008.
Ming and his girls, Sao Paulo, June 2008.
Gabriella Maïa (posing) and others are undressing prior to be filmed walking by booker Vitor who came especially from Paris in order to find new young wanabe models. They have to wear swimsuits so he can have an idea of their bodies.
Gabriella & Erica Fontes, two girls improvising fashion photo shoot in the kitchen, Brazil, June 2008.
Gabriela, 14, is waiting in the line at Ming's. Sao Paulo, june 2008.
Forteen year old Gabriella is waiting along with some other teenagers for Vitor to see her book.
Ming and his "protégée" in his agency, June 2008.
Gabriella Maïa (posing) and others are undressing prior to be filmed walking by booker Vitor who came especially from Paris in order to find new young wanabe models.
Ming is watching at Vitor while he's chosing his girls to bring them to Paris. Brazil, june 2008.
Erika Fontes is waiting for her turn among the others, she's 15 and she travelled 1000 miles accross Brasil with her parents to go to that casting, to meet Vitor at Ming's agency.
A girl is posing in a bathing suit in front of Vitor’s little camera.
Sara pose nue sur la terrasse de Ming. Sao Paulo, Brésil, juin 2008.
Casting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, june 2008.
Casting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, june 2008.
Director of models agency "Lumiere" in Sao Paulo.
Girl in casting at Lumiere agency, Brazil, may 2008.
