Tim Batist

Meet Lia.

A difficult time in her youth left scars. Literally. Today, she is a strong and confident woman.
“Yet sometimes I feel less worthy, less beautiful than others. That makes me feel like I have to overcompensate.”
Meet Lia, a child of the sea with Sicilian blood running through her veins.

Lia lives near the sea, where her heart lies. We meet in a quiet spot in the dunes. The sun is setting, rays of light reflecting on the ocean.

“I really love the sea, the beach and the dunes. Especially this particular spot: unspoiled nature with a wonderful view of the ocean”, she says. “The sea can be wild, quiet, beautiful, powerful… I love it and I’ve always lived nearby. I’m a real child of the sea.”

You love the place where you grow up, but you don’t want to stay here. Tell me about it.

“My boyfriend and I want to settle somewhere abroad. That’s my biggest dream. And that’s why we want to go on a road trip through Europe next summer. Looking for freedom, adventure and hopefully a place to stay. I don’t want to commit to a 9 to 5 job for the rest of my life. The thought alone scares me. Our well-being is more important than what society imposes on us. I want to get more out of life and really look for happiness.”

Are you an adventurous kind of person?

“Yes, I am a smooth, open, spontaneous and of course adventurous type. Stubborn and impatient, but I can also persevere very hard. And most importantly: always looking for new challenges.”

Like posing naked for ‘The Girls’. How did you feel about this?

“It felt better than I could ever imagine. Very liberating. It is what it is, your body. When you’re naked, you can’t hide anything. That’s what makes nudity so serene and beautiful.”

How do you feel about your body?

“I’ve always been very sporty, ever since I was a child. The last couple of years I’ve been into fitness and CrossFit. That made me stronger. I can see that in my body and it feels great. I really like my round buttocks and muscular legs. My arms are also taking shape. I like to see that because I work hard for it.”

“Then there are my scars. On the one hand, they are part of me and have me shaped into the strong and confident woman I am today. But I still have a hard time with it sometimes. I feel like I’m worth less, I’m less beautiful than others because I look that way. That makes me feel like I have to overcompensate. That is sometimes difficult.”

“I really like my round buttocks and muscular legs”

You have no tattoos on your body. Ever considered having one?

“I would love to have some. I have some ideas, but I’m not sure where I want to have them. They will be small and sophisticated tattoos anyway. I see them as decoration, an ode to my body.”

What else is on your bucket list?

“I’m always looking for new challenges, things that make me happy and beautiful places to discover. I would love to visit New Zealand, Canada, Hawaii… The unspoiled nature really appeals to me.”

What makes you happy?

“The simple and good life. No stress, good food, time for myself, a great workout, my dog, my boyfriend, traveling and discovering…”

What makes you sad?

“Injustice, people who are treated unfairly.”

What do you regret the most?

“That, in some situations, I haven’t stood up for myself enough. ”

“I want to get more out of life and really look for happiness”

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

“Happy and carefree, somewhere warmer than in Belgium. Maybe my boyfriend and I will have found a place to live and run our own business by then.”

What song makes you instantly happy?

“I don’t have one particular song that I love. So many songs and artists can make me happy.”

What movie would you watch on a rainy Sunday afternoon?

“Lord of the Rings. I’ll never get tired of those movies, even though I’ve watched them countless times.”

What’s your favorite dish?

“Pasta, without a doubt. With lots of garlic, oil and fresh tomatoes. And parmesan cheese of course. Simple, but really delicious!”

What is The Girls?

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

Interested in joining The Girls? Slide into my DM!