About a year ago, fans long awaited the second album from Frank Ocean. They weren't sure if it was going to be more like Channel Orange or his fan favorite mixtape, nostaglia, ULTRA, they just knew it was going to be great.

Photographer Quil Lemons will openly admit that he was one of those fans that rushed down to the pop up shop in New York to get his hands on the free album that was tucked away inside a glossy magazine titled Boys Don't Cry. For him, the album was more than the music but overall inspiration.

Following the release of Blonde and his personal life experiences, Lemons was inspired to do a photo series that aimed to expand the acceptable expressions of black masculinity. Thus, "Glitterboy" was born.

"Black men really don't get represented in any ways exploring masculinity outside of the stereotype of being a thug so I wanted to do something to show a different facet of what's out there," Lemons told NBC Blk, emphasizing that the project was not about sexuality, including men of color that are both gay and straight. "If it was white guys in makeup, no one would really say anything but I think with black dudes it's different."

Photo: Quil Lemons

The men featured in the photo series are black men of various skin tones, all wearing glitter makeup in front of peach or pink backdrops. One of the models is Myles Loftin who earlier this year released his own photo series called "HOODED," that aimed to show black men in hoodies does not equal danger. The photoseries was a tribute to Trayvon Martin.

"I wanted them to show how many nuances of what a black boy can be. They just looked so pretty and I don't think black men get to be seen as being pretty or being cute," Lemons explained.

I think it's time for us to really sit down and explore the damage toxic masculinity has had on not only our people but our culture. It's time to celebrate masculinity in every form.

Head over to Quil Lemons's Instagram page to see the rest of the stunning photos.

Quil Lemons

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