Tim Batist

Meet Eline.

She’s naive, she says, and she’s proud of it. “I always believe in the good of people. This quality has often disappointed me, but I still think it’s my best.” This Girl dedicated her life to her dogs. And one day, she will dedicate it to all animals in need. “If anything were possible, I would make sure that no animal, by extension no creature, should suffer.” Meet Eline.

For this photoshoot, you posed fully nude. How did you feel about this?

“It is pretty hard to be naked around people you don’t have an emotional connection with. At least, that’s how I used to think about nudity. In the end, being naked is the most natural thing you can do. Everybody is naked beneath his or her clothes, so why is there a taboo? It’s all about how the nudity is captured. I’ve had other offers for nude photoshoots, but I wouldn’t do that when I don’t feel okay about the photographer.”

How do you feel about your body?

“A lot of people think I’m a very confident girl. Because of the pictures on my Instagram, people think I feel very secure about myself. Nothing is less true. With every picture I want to post on social media, questions ghost through my mind. Isn’t that too naked? Am I really that ugly? I feel very insecure, every day, but apparently I can hide that very well. I’m really not that blonde girl that thinks that she’s oh so pretty.”

What do you like the most about yourself?

“That’s a very difficult question. If I had to pick one thing, it would be my eyes. My brother and I have the same iris. Deep blue-green with a yellowish border. As far as my personality is concerned, my naivety is what I like the most about myself. I always believe in the good of people. This quality has often disappointed me, but I still think it’s my best.”

“People think I’m a very confident girl. Nothing is less true”

You have two remarkable tattoos. What story do they tell?

“The one on my back has two parts. The upper part is the Eye of Ra, the Egyptian sun god. I really love Egyptian mythology. The stories, drawings, symbols, all with their own wonderful meaning. The part under the Eye was made by a traveling friend of mine who stayed a couple of days at my place. I asked him if I could see his designs and before I knew, he had made one for me. It’s his visualization of how he sees me as a person. Although my connection with Theo - the artist - is not very strong, this is my most meaningful tattoo.”

“The chest tattoo represents the seven chakras, with a snake wrapped around them. The snake is the most earthly being, and its molting stands for eternal transformation. I also believe everything is connected and comes from energy, that’s why I have the chakras on my body. You could say my tattoos represent my spiritual side. People sometimes ask me I if I won’t regret this. Maybe later, I will ask myself why the hell I put this big tattoo on my chest, but thinking of the mindset I had when I got it, will make me feel safe. When I look at my tattoos, I look at a part of my life where I was happy. It’s my way of carrying that happiness with me forever.”

If anything were possible, what is the first thing you would do?

“Without a doubt: moving abroad and starting my own animal shelter. It’s my biggest dream. The feeling that I can help vulnerable animals in the right way, makes me feel intensely happy. If anything were possible, I would make sure no animal, by extension no creature, should suffer.”

What else is on your bucket list?

“There’s so many things I want to do, but bungee jumping or skydiving isn’t one of them. The only thing I can think about at this moment, is being fully independent. Mentally and financially. I want to buy a van, rebuild it and leave with my dogs. The only thing that calms me down and makes me happy, is being with them in nature. I would also like to experience other ways of life. I’m used to live in this privileged world, but would love to know how it feels to live with a tribe.”

What was the most beautiful moment in your life so far?

“Two memories immediately come to my mind. The first one was when I went camping with a friend in France, the region of Gorges du Verdon. We were hitchhiking, when suddenly an old man stopped. At first, we were suspicious, but as I already said: my naive side took over and we got into his car. A great decision. We spent the rest of our trip with this man. We played at cards, visited beautiful places and had a lot of beers. I will always remember how a stranger could become a friend in such a short time. Unfortunately, he died earlier this year.”

“The second memory also involves traveling. I went on a trek in Portugal with a couple of friends. I met someone and everything was perfect. He was my first big love and gave Portugal another, warm and precious meaning to me.”

What are you most proud of?

“This may sound silly, but I’m actually pretty proud of how I’ve grown to be the person I am today. I’m not quick to learn from my mistakes, mostly I have to make them five times before I learn from them. Most mistakes are also my own fault, but I’ve always gotten out. I’ve learned to not take everything personally. I’m going for myself. In the end, I will die alone. This idea has taught me to grow for myself, not for someone else. Yes, I’m proud of myself, even though I still make mistakes.”

“When I look at my tattoos, I look at a part of my life where I was happy”

What makes you happy?

“It may sound very simple, but being with my dogs makes me really happy. Atlas and Koda are my soulmates. Animals are the purest reflection of nature. They are more loyal than most people. I really learned a lot from them.”

What makes you sad?

“My love for animals is also my weakness. It can make me very angry and sad to see how much animal suffering there is. I just don’t understand why hunting in the wild is still allowed, that elephants and rhinos still get killed for their ivory and that a lot of people still have no respect for all the beauty Mother Nature has given us.”

What do you regret the most?

“I have made a lot of stupid decisions. But if I could turn back time, I would do everything the same way I did before. I made choices for a reason and I believe they had to be like that to take me where I am now. Maybe I might have had a better way of life, more money or a better job, but I am very happy with how everything ended up. So I regret nothing.”

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

“I think it’s scary to think about the future. Will I have lost loved ones by then? Will I be married? Will I live in another country? I prefer not to think about this kind of questions. Destiny will take me where I need to be. Next question, please.” (laughs)

What song makes you instantly happy?

“Nissim by The Gaslamp Killer. Wherever I am, this song makes me smile. Every time I hear it, I can imagine myself dancing in a field of flowers in France. This song takes me to dreamland.”

What movie would you watch on a rainy Sunday afternoon?

“My all time favorite movie is, without a doubt, I Origins. The movie is about how far your soul can go when you die, and how much you can believe in reincarnation. The movie makes me cry every time I watch it, but it’s the only movie I could watch every day. And of course Brother Bear. Best. Movie. Ever.”

What’s your favorite dish?

“Spaghetti. For me, every day is spaghetti day. Even when I’m at a fancy restaurant, I always order spaghetti. I would definitely choose it as my last meal. With a Dame Blanche as a dessert.” (laughs)

What is The Girls?

The Girls is a project by Tim Batist.
A combination of nude photography and storytelling.

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