Chris is a queer photojournalist and visual storyteller from Cape Town, South Africa. Her experience is wide, from managing creative projects for international organisations to on-the-ground reporting for prestigious South African and international publications. She is driven to tell human stories at the intersection of the personal and the political, especially about the pursuit of LGBTQ civil rights in Africa.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Journalism and a Master of Philosophy in Sociology and Social Anthropology. She is a grantee of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and a fellow of the VII Academy. She is a member of The African Photojournalism Database and Women Photograph.
What inspires you?
Knowing the power of the media to reflect and shape our world, I feel compelled to create media that advocates for our rights and humanity through our voices and on our own terms. Our stories are powerful and we deserve to take up space in our collective archive! Ultimately, I’m inspired by our incredible queer family and I want to help make sure that we see ourselves represented and celebrated!
I think it’s best summed up by three phrases:
What is your vision for the transgender movement in Africa?
Well, for a start, civil rights and protections for all. That, and for transgender and queer Africans to know that they belong, they are important and are crucial to the growth and success of our continent. I want to see transgender Africans taking up space in all spheres of public life, and for our queer lives to be represented and celebrated in all our diversity and dynamism.
I am most proud of: Carving out a life for myself that is personally, politically and professionally queer. And the incredible community of found family that surround me.
My happy place is: Behind the camera, or with my wife and our stereotypically large pet family.
