Mackenzie Cruikshanx

Mackenzie Cruikshanx, 18 years old works at Aveda in Jacksonville.

She is going to beauty school with Aveda Monday's, Tuesday's and Wednesday's for 13 months. Cruikshanx is primarily focusing on nails and hair for her studies.

To get a license in Fla., you have to be certified with 1200 hours of training. Aveda requires their student's to have 1600 hours of training. Different states require different licenses but since Cruikshanx will have 1600 hours completed already, all she will need to do is apply for a new license wherever she wants. She will not need to make up any more training hours. 

An interesting fact about Mackenzie, is her name used to be Noah. 

When (Noah) first started high school she knew she wanted to become Mackenzie. 

Mackenzie lived her high school years in the foster care system of SAYS (Saint Augustine Youth Services). She pays for her own medical care and has been since she was in high school. She has to buy her own hormones as well in order to go through this process. 

Cruikshanx chose Aveda for many reasons, such as they do not test their natural products on animals, only humans. 

Cruikshanx's ambition is to have her own salon called "En Femme" a salon specifically for trans gendered people. She will specialize in cosmetics important for that role.  

"Men have different needs for skincare, in terms of makeup, instead of skin colored foundation, we start with and orange color to hide the facial hair." Cruikshanx explained to me that it takes a lot more work to put together a males face with makeup because you have to start from the bottom and paint a new face.

Cruikshanx, 18 years old working at Aveda in Jacksonville Fla. 

Cruikshanx works until 8pm on Monday's, Tuesday's and Wednesday's. She also works at Staples in order to receive and income. Cruikshanx gets $5000 from the government to help pay for her schooling. She had money saved up from when she lived in foster care, however that was spent very quickly given her living expenses. 

She has somewhat of a relationship with her father and stepmother. Cruikshanx says that her father understands her gender changing decisions more than her stepmother does. 

Living by herself in apartments in Jacksonville, Cruikshanx dreams of being in New York City, and is working towards her goal.

Mackenzie left SAYS in June and has 9 more months left of training in Aveda before she can get her license. 

Cruikshanx has been battling being a woman trapped in a males body for a very long time. She has not received the surgery yet, but is seriously considering getting it in the foreseeable future. 

Cruikshanx loves to pose for her pictures. She always wants to try to show her best features. She is extremely proud of who she is and wants to exceed in life, regardless of her obstacles.  

This is the Aveda beauty salon where Cruikshanx studies. 

SPOT NEWS.. DUNDUNDUNNNN! (The beast that entered their home, and changed their lives forever)

Kristina Robertson, 20 and Emily DeMerchant, 20 in St. Augustine home, just before the incident. 

Cockroach 36 days old, St. Augustine, Fla., headed towards Kristina Robertson and Emily DeMerchant.

Kristina Robertson, 20 spots the cockroach and Emily DeMerchant, 20 seems frightened.  

Both Kristina Robertson, 20 and Emily DeMerchant, 20 in St. Augustine home are afraid for their lives as the cockroach approaches them.

AnnaRuth Bernhardt, 20, St. Augustine Fla., heres the cries of her helpless roommates.

AnnaRuth Bernhardt runs to grab the Raid in hopes to defeat the beast.

As she faces the cockroach Bernhardt accidentally sprays herself with the raid

AnnaRuth Bernhardt committed an accidental suicide, I caught her on film as she fell to the ground. The cockroach is basking in his victory against the human.

Kristina Robertson, 20 and Emily DeMerchant, 20 run to AnnaRuth's aid as she falls to her death.

Kristina Robertson, 20 and Emily DeMerchant, 20 take the raid and tennis shoe is hopes to finally vanquish this despicable creature.

The cockroach then bleeds out into death..

Kristina Robertson, 20 and Emily DeMerchant, 20 in St. Augustine home have avenged the death of their loyal friend AnnaRuth.... All in a normal St. Augustine day. (Which I happened to document the whole event)

Interpretive Eye. Through the Eyes of a Foreign Beholder.

Copley Square Farmers Market, Boston Massachusetts, October, 2014. This is through the eyes of a tourist, or foreign beholder. This is placed in a farmers market, and amongst the rustle of all of the fruits, vegetables and anxious Bostonians, these sunflowers are radiating peace of mind and tranquility. Sunflowers are known for being gifts of radiant warmth. They are the happiest of flowers and their meanings are of loyalty and longevity. They are unique and provide energy and vibrance, sending out messages of sun and hope. The stalks of sunflowers were enough to spread this positivity throughout all of Copley Square. 

Candid Found Situation

Alicia, 18, Saint Augustine Fla. 

Saint Augustine, Fla. This concoction is made with corn syrup, dawn, food coloring, soap and water.  

Alicia tells me they can leave the soap concoction in overnight. 

Alicia, 18, Saint Augustine, Fla. Alicia works outside of Fudge Bucket to try to draw in customers by using bubbles!

Alicia, 18, Saint Augustine, Fla. People apparently take pictures of her regularly.

Alicia, 18, Saint Augustine, Fla. Alicia has been working at Fudge Bucket for 3 months.

Alicia, 18, Works outside Fudge Bucket in Saint Augustine, Fla. She tries to bring in new customers by using cool bubbles!

Alicia, 18, Works outside Fudge Bucket in Saint Augustine, Fla. She tries to bring in new customers by using cool bubbles!

Alicia, 18, Works outside Fudge Bucket in Saint Augustine, Fla. She tries to bring in new customers by using cool bubbles!

Alicia, 18, Works outside Fudge Bucket in Saint Augustine, Fla. She tries to bring in new customers by using cool bubbles!

Kristina Robertson, 20, Flagler College courtyard. She applied for the scholarship abroad program to New Zealand, I painted her and photographed her to send in a picture for the contest. 

Kristina Robertson, 20. This photograph was taken in our backyard in Saint Augustine FL. I was trying to capture her inner wild side through her beauty. 

Kristina Robertson, 20. This was taken in our back yard in Saint Augustine, FL. She is posing against a white door in black and white to bring out the white highlights. 

Kristina Robertson, 20. This was taken in our back yard in Saint Augustine, FL. Robertson is modeling an off the rack boutique cotton top. Comfortably casual.

Kristina Robertson, 20. This was taken in our back yard in Saint Augustine, FL. Again showing her wild side being exposed even in a casual cotton top. Fully comfortable in a wild environment.

Kristina Robertson, 20. This was taken in our back yard in Saint Augustine, FL. Robertson is posing on a tire swing, showing that this decor can be used to dress up or to lounge around and get dirty.

Kristina Robertson, 20. This was taken in our back yard in Saint Augustine, FL. Robertson is posing showing the way the Suave product makes her hair look naturally curled. 

Kristina Robertson, 20. This was taken in our back yard in Saint Augustine, FL. Robertson bringing out her wild nature in a calm light. 

Kristina Robertson, 20. This was taken in our back yard in Saint Augustine, FL. Robertson pondering in the woods, the light exposing her blouse. 

Kristina Robertson, 20. This was taken in our back yard in Saint Augustine, FL. Robertson rocking the red shoes in the midst of a black and white canvas. The red can bring color into any environment.

Kristina Robertson, 20. This was taken in our back yard in Saint Augustine, FL. Robertson showing the comfortable exposure of her blouse and skort. Sporty, yet chic and classy.