This woman is absolutely unique.
Her beauty and indomitable gaze give her an extraordinary allure.
We are in Mali, near Timbuktu, and the subject is a Tuareg woman — a member of the semi-nomadic people native to this part of the Sahara.
This tribe has many fascinating traits: for instance, unlike most cultures, Tuareg women leave their faces uncovered, while men wear veils — a unique reversal found nowhere else in the world.
According to their traditions, the veil protects men from evil spirits.
They are often called the “Blue Men” of the desert because the natural indigo dyes used in their turbans stain their skin with a bluish tint.
It is an extraordinarily striking people — and this woman, with her proud, dignified expression, embodies that strength perfectly.