The Truth About Sex Through Fiction.
Words: Rochelle Thomas
Kayleigh Daniels Dated is a series of short raunchy stories drawing attention to the realities of female sexuality. The yearlong project features 12 brief sex tales involving fictional character Kayleigh Daniels and a reciprocal health segment that accompanies each two-minute read two weeks after release. These health features “Body Talk” bare truth to real life and are written by doctors, therapists and facilitators from the fields of gynaecology, sexual health, sex therapy, and psychiatry - bringing awareness and demystifying myths surround sex and bodily mishaps.
“There’s a current trend for more honest depictions of women’s sexuality,” says Kayleigh Daniels creator, Almaz Ohene. “Evidently, there’s an appetite for material that’s real and visceral, yet also relatable. My friends and I have graphic conversations about sex and our bodies, but often can’t find appropriate and accessible information we need about a specific issue. I’ve got 12 women, who are experts in female biology and psychosexual habits, to guide us through some common issues.”
'Dirty Thirty' illustration (Image credit – Parys Gardener)
Whilst female sexuality is becoming more of a societal subject, the dialogue and perspective has been largely viewed through the lens of white women’s experiences. In a bid to challenge the status quo, Kayleigh has been deliberately cast as a darker-skinned woman of colour.
“I’ve never seen someone who looks like me, with my cultural and educational background, represented in anything similarly risqué before. So, this project is an opportunity to centre a different kind of protagonist.”
Almaz Ohene, Kayleigh Daniels Dated creator (Image credit – JCH)
It’s also an opportunity to break the stigma around black women who are dating.A, somewhat over told, perspective includes the sexualisation and fetishism of black women, with their partners perhaps fitting a certain stereotype. But all of Kayleigh’s pursuits are a variation of different physical and socio-economic types. “It’s important that readers understand that, not only does Kayleigh have lots of great (and sometimes not so great) sexual experiences, but they are also with different kinds of people, who are all into her.”
'Silver Fox No.2' illustration (Image credit – Parys Gardener)
Furthering this, the majority of all project contributors will be women of colour. “Women of colour are woefully under-represented in all areas of professional life. I’m one of just a handful of non-white women working as a creative in the digital publishing space, so it’s vital to back our own creative practices whenever the opportunity arises”.
Working alongside Almaz on the website are Parys Gardener and Nat Mortimer who produce original illustrations and iconography respectively.Parys’ bright clean visuals focus on pop art techniques utilising block colour, tone and pattern across digital media. She is creating 13 date scenes for the project.
Kayleigh Daniels Dated logo. (Image credits – Parys Gardener and Nat Mortimer)
In contrast, Nat’s clean and modern, tri-tone graphics are to go alongside the Body Talks expert features. She says “It’s great to be involved in such a unique project, and we hope we can to reach women all over the world to help educate them about their bodies and sexuality.”
You can visit Kayleigh Daniels social media pages to view their multi-media content: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Words: Rochelle Thomas
