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15 illustrations that beautifully capture life without the male gaze.

Being a woman isn't easy, but in every iteration, it's pretty damn beautiful.

Especially when it's drawn by French illustrator Cécile Dormeau, who depicts women of all shapes, sizes, and colors experiencing the honest, funny, awkward, and infuriating moments that make up a woman's lived experience.

It's a colorful, animated look at life without the male gaze or unrealistic standards of beauty — just women experiencing pride, strength, and uncertainty in equal measure. Body hair in all its glory. Women celebrating and embracing every curve, scar, and stretch mark as the badges of honor they are.

Here are 15 of Dormeau's illustrations and GIFs, along with your daily reminder that women are amazing AF.

1. We come in all shapes and sizes, and each one of them is freakin' gorgeous.

2. We're strong, even when our heads tell us otherwise.

3. We go against the grain.

4. We serve up looks. Even if they're just for us.

5. We eat. And we like it.

6. And we don't always feel bad about it afterward.

7. Why should we? We're awesome.

8. We've earned our stripes. Literally...

9. ...and figuratively.

10. Yes, we can be tender and vulnerable.

11. And even unsure.

12. But that's not an invitation to f--k with us.

13. Seriously. Don't f--k with us.

14. Because we're strongest when we work together.

15. And you ain't seen nothing yet.

This 2-time U.S. poet laureate wants your help telling an amazing story.

Art can provide hope, community and a sense of purpose.

Illustration by Juana Medina via The Library of Congress

As the son of migrant farmers, Juan Felipe Herrera leaned on that hope as his family struggled to make a living. Constantly chasing the seasons through the unforgiving desert, scalding sun, and suffocating heat, the Herrera family found themselves living in trailers and tents more times than not. This life taught Herrera the value of hard work, and now he's made giving hope, community, and a sense of purpose through his words and his new job.

Herrera is a second-term U.S. poet laureate and the first Latino to ever receive the honor.

Photo by The Press-Enterprise via AP.

He has penned 30 books of poetry, novels, and collections. A small sampling of his highlights include "Half the World in Light: New and Selected Poems," which won a National Book Critics Circle Award and the International Latino Book Award. He's been recognized by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and the (still-alive) National Endowment for the Arts.

And he wants your help.

Currently, he is writing an illustrated book with the help of all second- and third-graders around the country in order to promote literacy, creativity, and diversity in our all-of-a-sudden tenuous educational system.

Illustration by Juana Medina via Library of Congress.

"The Technicolor Adventures of Catalina Neon" is an illustrated book Herrera is writing and artist Juana Medina is illustrating.

In his words: "Hello! I’m Juan Felipe Herrera, the 21st U.S. Poet Laureate. Welcome to 'The Technicolor Adventures of Catalina Neon,' a bilingual, illustrated poem created with the help of artist Juana Medina ... and you. Teachers and librarians, get your second and third grade students 'neonized' and help us tell Catalina’s story to the world!"

What makes this such a special project is that direct input from grade-school children are shaping the story in real time. The first three chapters have come out, and the book has been crafted with help from kids from Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, California, and Massachusetts.

Illustration via Juana Medina via Library of Congress.

What happens next? That's up to you.

Each month, Herrera posts the book so far in visual and audio form and provides a prompt for the upcoming chapter. The February 2017 prompt reads, "Write an enchanted poem — with some Spanish words — that will change the fate of Catalina, her parents, and Tortilla."

Illustration vis Juana Medina via Library of Congress.

But why undertake a challenge like this? "It's always been about reaching as many people as possible, and putting writing on the table of as many families and schools as possible," Herrera told the Dallas Observer last year. "I write for different audiences which could be young adults, toddlers, adults, experimental poets or performance poets. I do all these things because I love writing and because I love people, and not just one group, but all groups."

The timing for fighting for literacy, creativity, and diversity couldn't be better.

With our educational system on an apparent collision course, people like Herrera are part of the solution and the optimism that we can rely on in these times. We don't know how this current administration and its appointees' stories will end, but we can dive into the fictional world of Catalina Neon and, with the help of our children, hopefully find a happy ending for her adventure.

If you're a second- or third-grader: Thank you for reading Upworthy! If you or someone you know would like to contribute to the next installment, submit your ideas here.

In the past year, about 85,000 refugees from around the world settled in the United States.

Each refugee undergoes a rigorous screening process that can take years to complete. That experience alone is often exhausting and all-consuming.

Once they arrive, language barriers, lack of economic opportunities, and working in and around complicated systems can make settling in a new country and community very difficult.

"[Refugees] undergo already a very long and painful life," said Chhabi Koirala, who spent 17 years in a refugee camp in Nepal. "They are very tired of being in the camp. And when they come here they see everything different. It's not always what they expect."

The Hornbakery, a group of graduate students from the University of Maryland, explored the confusion and uncertainty many refugees face in a powerful illustrated story below, titled "Amira in America."

The group consists of four women: Andrea Castillo, Carmen Collins, Liz Laribee, and Dolly Martino. "All of us had a personal interest in creating something for people who speak English as a foreign language for a variety of reasons, from experiencing migration to the U.S. firsthand to volunteering with refugees in the U.S.," explained the group in an interview.

"Amira in America" is about a Syrian girl named Amira who is adjusting to her new life in America. She shares a bond with her teacher, an immigrant from Ethiopia, who understands the hardships and isolation that Amira feels in a new land.

The Hornbakery chose to do an illustration about refugees to resonate with a diverse audience. "Pairing the story with the pictures helps get the message across more easily, especially for those who may lack literacy skills, either in English or even in their own language," they explained.

While getting started in a new place is challenging, as this story shows, there are many ways to support and empower new residents.

Koirala now works as a job coach with the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), a Portland-based nonprofit serving over 30,000 community members each year. The organization provides more than 140 linguistically and culturally specific services and resources, including academic support, community development, parenting education, English courses and more.

In his role, Koirala helps new residents secure employment. He assists with resumes, sets up interviews, and even provides transportation.

You can help refugees in your community too. In fact, Koirala has some tips.

Seek out local organizations and charities in your area, as many desperately need volunteers. Whether it's driving families to and from appointments or serving as a translator or English conversation partner. And as refugees and immigrants settle into their new routines, being a friendly and familiar face in a sea of uncertainty goes a long way. Unsure where or how to start? Koirala says, don't be afraid to speak up.

"Ask folks what they need and how you can help."

'I firmly believe that without this diagnosis and the journey it has led me to make, I really would be a boring narrow-minded old fart.'

In the sea of international causes we now observe, it may be easy to forget that World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day. What should not be easily forgotten, however, is how many it's affected in just three decades.

According to the U.K. organization National AIDS Trust, since the virus was first identified back in 1984, over 35 million people have lost their lives to it. Today, an estimated 36.7 million people are living with HIV worldwide. But thanks to advances in medicine, especially in the last decade, infection rates are going down, and people who have the disease are living longer.

While that is ultimately good news, life with HIV/AIDS is not simple, even when you take away the added regular health management. There is still a heavy stigma around it that often affects people living with either condition. Most of this seems to stem from a lack of understanding about how HIV is contracted.

English illustrator Graham Johnson, together with National AIDS Trust, wanted to help reverse the stigma by introducing the world to actual people who were handed the HIV/AIDS diagnosis over the years. He illustrated 10 of their stories to show how the individuals behind the scary statistics keep living life, often fuller than they did before.

Here they are in chronological order, from the early 1980s all the way up to today.

All illustrations by Graham Johnson/National AIDS Trust, used with permission.

Of course, there are negative experiences in here, but the point is that they don't define these people. They're challenges to overcome, after which life ultimately moves forward.

Thanks to measures by National AIDS Trust and other HIV awareness groups, people living with HIV/AIDS don't face nearly as much judgment and discrimination as they did in the past. As long as any stigma remains, however, it's important to keep the conversation about the condition going until all fears are put to rest.

It's equally as important to keep supporting prevention methods. National AIDS Trust recently won a major lawsuit that declared the National Health Service in England can fund (and must consider implementing) the HIV prevention drug PrEP. This newer drug prevents HIV-negative people from contracting the virus and thus could help lower the number of new cases significantly. Government support for these discoveries is necessary for them to have any sort of impact.

The fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic is ongoing, but the more people and organizations who stand by those who've been diagnosed, the sooner the stigma around it will become a distant memory.

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A straight man in Oklahoma wants you to know not all country boys are homophobic. - Upworthy ›

There's no rush in becoming the person you want to be.

In March 2015, Justin Hubbell came out online as genderqueer and got tons of love and support from hundreds of people.

It was beautiful. But then what? Justin had all this wind in their sails and were excited to find out all about presenting as female.

But SPOILER ALERT: It wasn't as simple as they thought. Lucky for us, Justin documented their powerful journey in this eye-opening comic about being true to yourself — no matter how long it takes to figure out what that means to you.

[rebelmouse-image 19524377 dam="1" original_size="735x7717" caption="Comic by Justin Hubbell." expand=1]Comic by Justin Hubbell.

Justin says they knew what "genderqueer" meant, but they didn't know what it meant for them ... yet. And that's OK!

The rules are: There are no rules.

People come in all shapes and sizes. Everyone also has their own sense of fashion. So how you choose to present yourself is up to you and nobody else.

It's also important to remember that dressing a certain way or looking a certain way does not and will not change who you are inside. Whatever you identify with remains the same. So if you're trying to figure out what feels good on you, remember: one size does not fit all.

This heartwarming comic reminds us that there's no rush in becoming exactly who you want to be.

There's also no rush in figuring out how you want to be seen by the world, and that can change week-to-week too.

So take your time and enjoy the ride. It's not a race!

If you liked Soosh's first set of daddy-daughter photos, you'll love these.

Not too long ago, an artist named Soosh took the web by storm with her paintings depicting dad and daughter relationships. Now she's back with more.

Soosh, as she's affectionately known, is an extremely talented painter with a very compelling story. Her father wasn't a big part of her life growing up, and that still haunts her to this day. But now she's turning a negative into a positive by creating illustrations that show how a dad should interact with his daughter.

The main goal is to inspire her 9-year-old son to be a good man and father in the future, and in doing so, she ended up inspiring many people when her artwork hit the mainstream on Instagram and her website.

"The positive reaction makes me feel so good," Soosh told Upworthy. "You always kinda presume there are many good people in the world, but when you have the chance to make sure it's true, it's like a revelation."

But even though Soosh's artwork is extremely popular, it doesn't have a 100% approval rating.

Why is the dad so big?

It makes no sense that you only draw fathers. Where is the mother?

Those are two of the most common critiques Soosh receives from the outside, and she's here to drop some knowledge those people.

"The father is so big because he represents the huge importance of loving parent or family member in a child's life. And the little girl, who happens to be me, represents a child's need for love, protection, and support. This documents what I hoped for my own personal experience, but in reality, it doesn't matter if it's a mother or father, because the universal message here is about love. No matter who gives it."

And with that, here are 13 more heartwarming illustrations that perfectly describe the daddy-daughter relationship.

1. Dads know how to get busy in the kitchen.

All illustrations are provided by Soosh and used with permission.

2. And they aren't afraid to learn new skills if it means making their kids happy.

3. They know their limitations when it comes to playing hide and seek.

4. They also know the importance of teaching their daughters to hold their ground, no matter what.

5. And they are always willing to accept treatment for all external or internal wounds.

6. Dads know that you don't have to do much to enjoy a quality bonding experience.

7. It can be a simple shadow puppet show.

8. Or the occasional costume party.

9. But dads know that when they work late, there will be crushed little ones at home who miss them.

10. So they do everything possible to be present for every precious milestone and moment.

11. Including bath time.

12. Or when love is discovered.

13. Because when it comes to being a dad, the snuggle is real.

And this, my friends, is what fatherhood should look like today and everyday.

This artwork shows how beautiful fatherhood truly is.

Ever since Yannick Vicente was a kid, he enjoyed doodling and creating art. But where he started is much different from where he is now.

Vicente lives in France and works as an artist, and he's a pretty good one. "I love art and have drawn for as long as I can remember," Vicente told Upworthy. "I basically taught myself."

A lot of what he learned ended up on the walls of buildings as graffiti. He probably would've continued down that path until one moment changed his life in 2011: He became a father to a beautiful little girl.

Vicente enjoying some love from his young daughter. Photo from Thomas O'Brien Photography, used with permission.

"I wanted to create art that my daughter would be proud of," Vicente said. "And that's why I changed my focus."

As a single dad, Vicente became passionate about fathers raising their kids, so he used his skills as an illustrator to show the dad-child bond.

And he's come a long way in five years.

First, he illustrated a children's book.

When Vicente got an opportunity to showcase his work on a larger scale — an offer to illustrate a book for kids — he jumped all over it.

"It was such an honor to work with an established author like Fabienne Blanchut," Vicente said. "I knew it was the start of something special."

Illustration by Yannick Vicente in "Mon Papa à Moi," used with permission.

As he got more comfortable with his new style, he created more great father-child illustrations for people to enjoy.

Vicente created this particular piece for a dad who happens to be a big fan of his art.

"It means so much to me when people ask me to illustrate something for them," he said. "It shows that they value my work."

To their kids, dads have amazing superpowers. All illustrations are originals from Yannick Vicente and used with permission.

Finally, he took his skills to another level by illustrating the relationship that means the most to him: the one he has with his 4-year-old daughter.

"My daughter means the world to me and I put my whole heart into any illustration that she happens to be in," Vicente said. "I had to evolve my work to match my passion."

Just by looking at some of his work, you know he's telling the truth.

Sometimes it's the all-too-familiar struggle with styling his daughter's hair.

Other times, it's getting blindsided by the tough questions.

More often than not, it's recognizing the immense power his daughter has over him, even if she doesn't know it yet.

But it's always about letting his daughter know that she is his whole world.

Although Vicente just recently started creating illustrations of him with his daughter, many people love his work.

"I've received some wonderful messages from dads who are in a difficult situation after a divorce or separation, and they tell me how much I inspire them," he said. "But it's really wonderful that moms find my pictures inspiring as well. I want to touch as many lives as possible."

And what does his daughter think of her daddy's artwork?

"She's young, but she likes the work I do," he said. "For her birthday, I offered drawings to the invited children, and that made her so proud."

I think a lot of people are proud of your work, my man. Thank you for using your art to show how beautiful fatherhood really is.