How many times have you opened up Instagram or simply flipped through a magazine and found yourself in front of beautiful women, with breathtaking physiques that make life seem so beautifully simple? Unfortunately the answer to this question is “too many”, but luckily there are those who decide to go against the grain and represent reality in all its facets, making women feel less alone. Stephanie DeAngelis is a graphic designer by day and illustrator in her spare time who has decided to draw women exactly as they are, far from the standards imposed by society.

If there’s one thing Stephanie wants to remind us with her illustrations, it’s that there is no such thing as the cover life, and there are no miraculous magic recipes for sudden weight loss, instant success at work or winning a man in two hours.
With a minimal and almost playful style, Stephanie DeAngelis shows private and intimate moments of young women who let themselves go to the small pleasures of life, such as a nice plate of pasta, or lying naked to smoke a cigarette and listen to the radio.

The extra kilos, skin colour, personal tastes, vices, moments of boredom and loneliness are no longer things to hide, but to share with everyone in such a way as to normalise real life, that of those who work all day and when they lie down on the sofa in the evening don’t want to dress well and above all don’t need to dress well to feel well.

We’ve selected just a few of Stephanie DeAngelis’ illustrations, but to find out more follow her on Instagram.