After being inspired by a recent conversation at the softball field, one Alabama mom is taking girl power to a whole new level this week with a series of viral photos she created to empower young girls, “because you can do it all.”
While chatting with other moms at her eight-year-old daughter’s softball practice, Heather Mitchell was struck by what one of the mothers said about her daughter.
“One of the moms told me (my daughter) was not athletic — that she was a girly girl,” Mitchell told TODAY Parents. “I couldn’t sleep that night. All I could think was, ‘Why does she have to choose?'”
Mitchell, an Alabama portrait photographer, says during her school days, she “played every sport offered and wore lipstick to every game.”
Because of that, it’s important to her that her daughter Paislee understands that you can be so much more than just a tomboy or a girly girl.
“Our daughters do not have to choose,” said Mitchell. “My parents taught me that I could be anything I wanted growing up. I didn’t realize until I was much older that everyone is not that blessed.”
The next day, she and Paislee went to the studio and created “Paislee’s shot,” something Mitchell says took only about three minutes because she knew exactly what she wanted to create.
Dressed in a beautiful princess gown, and tiara, Paislee sported face black, cleats, high socks and her softball glove as she sat atop a throne surrounded by yellow softballs.
After posting them to her personal Facebook page, Mitchell got “tons of requests.” So she blocked out two days on her schedule and the photoshoots sold out in an hour.
Mitchell’s message is simple: Because you can do it all.
“I hope that every little girl that sees this series can see that there is no box,” said Mitchell. “Whatever their dreams are, they can achieve them.”
Since posting the collection of stunning images, Mitchell’s post has gone viral with nearly 200,000 shares, and an overwhelming number of requests, which she plans to fill in the coming weeks.
