Pelonas

Transforming Perceptions of Women with Alopecia

Through this crowdfunding campaign, I aim to publish Pelonas, a photo book that brings to life a collection of true stories and evocative photographs—challenging societal beauty standards and celebrating the courage and resilience of women navigating alopecia.

This is a non-profit project, created solely to cover production, printing, and distribution costs. Your contribution will help this voice reach as many people as possible—especially those who need it most.

Hello and welcome!

Thank you for being here, for showing interest, and for taking the time to read what I’m sharing.

I’m Annabelle Sproat, an international lawyer specialized in gender-based violence, the third sector, and consular affairs. I’m also a documentary photographer deeply committed to social storytelling. My projects often explore gender issues and narratives that invite us to look beyond dominant perceptions, while embracing tenderness, subtle gestures, and everyday scenes—the ones that often go unnoticed.

Pelonas grew out of this vision: a project that portrays women with alopecia in their most intimate spaces, far from external judgment. I have photographed women in Catalonia, New York, and London, creating a mosaic of stories that transcend borders and cultures. Through their testimonies, Pelonas seeks to challenge beauty pressures and open a collective conversation about identity, beauty, and acceptance.

Pelonas has already been showcased in El Masnou, Barcelona, Perpinyà, and Vilobí del Penedès, and will continue to explore new territories. Now, our goal is to take this project further—bringing these women’s experiences closer to the public through a photo book that amplifies visibility and becomes a space of support and connection.

With your help, we can share these stories widely and keep transforming perspectives. Will you join us?

About the project

Approximately one in three women will experience alopecia at some point in their lives, yet they remain invisible in our society—unlike the normalization of male baldness. Beauty standards push many to hide their lack of hair, adapting their image to avoid judgment and comments. This invisibility reflects a society that still struggles to fully embrace female diversity.

Alopecia is much more than hair loss: it can have a profound emotional impact and create social and cultural barriers. Pelonas invites us to reflect on aesthetic perception, gender roles, and identity construction. Through portraits and testimonies, we aim to dismantle stigmas and show the strength of those who face this reality. Because beauty should never fit into a mold, and everyone deserves to be seen as they truly are.

Why your support matters

Pelonas is more than an artistic proposal: it’s a tool for social transformation. Supporting this project means contributing to an urgent conversation about identity and body diversity.

This project cannot walk alone. It needs social commitment and complicity to multiply its reach. Because changing society starts by looking at it differently.

What will the book be like?

• Size: 16.5 cm wide x 21.8 cm high
• Pages: 80
• Paper: Fedrigoni Symbol Tatami White 135g
• Cover: Softcover Otabind, printed 4 + 0 T

Pelonas is not just a photo book—it’s a carefully edited and designed work. From the choice of paper to the binding and cover finish, every detail has been thoughtfully crafted to offer a sensory experience that matches its message.

The cover features an exclusive illustration by Lee Yun Chen, a Taiwanese illustrator and designer.

Inside Pelonas, you’ll find a visual essay with more than 27 portraits, enriched by personal testimonies in the form of heartfelt letters. Each letter is written by the protagonists themselves, addressed to the person they were before losing their hair. These texts are intimate, sincere, and powerful, giving voice to a silenced experience and infusing the work with collective strength and moving honesty.

As a special closing, the book includes a text by Laura Ferrero, whose warm and personal perspective complements and enriches the whole.

The editorial design, meticulously crafted by La Bibliografica, brings coherence and sensitivity to the work.

What Your Contribution Will Fund

This is a non-profit project, created solely to cover production, printing, and distribution costs. We will also donate copies to various institutions, media outlets, and, of course, to the women featured in the book.

If we exceed the funding goal, the extra funds will go toward increasing the print run, promoting the book, and organizing a traveling exhibition of Pelonas in museums, galleries, and community spaces.

Minimum goal: €6,500

Rewards

Your support makes this project possible, and we want to thank you with a range of rewards designed to make you feel like an essential part of this journey.

Depending on the pack you choose, you can receive and/or participate in:
• The book: the heart of the project, created with care and dedication. Your name will be included in the book as a permanent acknowledgment of your support—because this project wouldn’t exist without you.
• Private visit to the exhibition in Barcelona: an exclusive experience to see the creative process up close.
• Exclusive raffle: if you contribute within the first 72 hours, you’ll automatically enter a draw for a personalized photo session, where I’ll travel to you to make it happen.

If for any reason you can’t contribute financially, or can’t use a credit card, if you’d like more copies of the book, or if you have any questions, feel free to contact me by clicking “Ask the author” below.

Estimated timeline
• Campaign: November–December 2025
• Production: December–January
• Shipping: End of January

+ Info

Follow the project on:

IG: @annabelle_sproat

Web: annabellesproat.com

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Sending big hugs to all of you.