Tim Batist

Meet Sophia.

A Duracell Bunny. That’s what people sometimes call her. And I have to admit: she has a lot of energy. An energy of a contagious kind. She’s a person who has the ability to infect you with her enthusiasm. “I am really bursting with energy, but it takes a lot from me: I literally get tired from myself.” Meet Sophia.

Saturday afternoon, Ghent. We meet in the centre of the city and stroll towards the place where we want to shoot: an abandoned fire station. We chat, listen to some old school hip hop music and take some pictures, until we get intimidated by some young crooks. So we move towards another spot: an open field where Sophia likes to walk her rescue dog Eros. In that place, Sophia blossoms completely open. She dances, jumps and runs around with Eros. Completely naked.

“The day Eros arrived in Belgium, was the best day of my life. He looked so ill, so broken. In the car, he sat next to me. The whole ride home, his little paw was on my hand. We immediately had an intense connection. As soon as we got home, he started howling softly and licking my face. You have to know Eros is a wild dog, that doesn’t trust people. At my place, he gave himself completely.”

You have a lot of energy. Really a lot.

“People sometimes call me a Duracell Bunny. (laughs) I am really bursting with energy. But that takes a lot from me: I literally get tired from myself. I always have a lot of fun, but for me it’s very difficult to dose my energy. That’s why I also like to be alone. Isolating myself is how I recharge. I am both an introvert and an extrovert. Not accidental, my horoscope is Gemini.”

I have to admit: it’s quite an experience to shoot with you.

“Well, I know I seem to be a confused and hectic person. It tires both myself and others. It doesn’t help that I’m very empathic. Things dat look very normal to other people, can make me extremely happy or sad. I can feel intense joy about a beautiful flower, and enjoy it as if I’m a six-year-old girl. And when I’m talking about something that I’m interested in, I do it with a lot of enthusiasm. As if I’m selling something. (laughs) I’m also pretty neurotic: I don’t like it when I have plans and they suddenly change. And all of those feelings are amplified because I am highly sensitive. So yes, I realize I can be overwhelming.”

“I would really like to give every person a deep feeling of empathy. Empathy is the key to everything”

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

“It felt very liberating. Everyone is made up of flesh and blood, but we are all shaped differently. That’s what makes us unique and beautiful. Things that make people insecure about themselves, can be really wonderful because they are unique. I try to project this way of thinking to myself.”

So there’s nothing you feel insecure about?

“Oh yes, there is. (laughs) When I look in the mirror, I am not very satisfied. Because of (social) media, everyone knows how you should look. But we get an unrealistic image. And although we all now realize this very well, the unrealistic images keep us insecure. But I’m sure everyone has insecurities and we shouldn’t feel ashamed for them. It is just a relief to admit your own insecurities. And I have to admit: looking at photos like the ones we took, gives me confidence.”

What do you like most about yourself?

“My freckles. They represent my inner youth.”

You have some tattoos. What is the meaning of them?

“Too many to mention. (laughs) On my wrist, it says ‘AD’. They are the initials of my father, who died when I was sixteen. I also have a tattoo that refers to my first adoption cat: Babbi. Those two tattoos mean the most to me. There are also some tattoos I just found awesome and because my sister is very good at drawing and tattooing.”

“My freckles represent my inner youth”

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

“I would give every person a deep feeling of empathy. Empathy ensures mutual understanding, peace, being open to other ideas, love for the earth and every living being. Empathy is really the key.”

What is the biggest dream you want to realize?

“This might sound stupid, but my biggest dream is to keep doing what I want to do. That I keep following my passion without taking into account what society expects of me. That’s how I live today, so actually I’m living the dream.” (laughs)

What are you most proud of?

“I am very proud of my personal transformation. A lot of things happened and made my life into a daily struggle. But I found my inner happiness and realized I need nothing or nobody to be happy. It was a long and painful journey to get there. I love to keep developing myself.”

What’s on your bucket list?

“I hope some day I can buy a large piece of land and build my own tiny house. I just want nature around me, the size of my house doesn’t matter at all. As long as it is cozy.”

Which country do you ever want to travel to?

“I would love to travel through Europe with my doggo, but there’s one place I really want to visit again: Aix-en-Provence. It’s the city of my father. It was our home. His ashes were scattered in the city of Cassis, between the calanques. It’s a place where I want to keep going until my time has come. And maybe one day I’ll move there? Who knows…”

“I feel very insecure about myself. But looking at the photos we took, gives me confidence”

What makes you happy?

“The little things: I look at the world with an admiring look. Being with the people I love. Even just having a meal can make me very happy. I am grateful for all those beautiful things in my life.”

What makes you sad?

“The way mankind treats other living creatures and even its own ‘kind’. People who consciously hurt others. It makes me very sad.”

What do you regret the most?

“I never regret. Do I wish I had done things differently? Maybe, but that would have changed my path and I’m happy with where I am now. All those experiences have taught me a lot.”

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

“Mentally richer. And happy, as I am now. I also hope to have a small business that rehabilitates dogs and offers them shelter.”

What song makes you instantly happy?

“Manu Chao’s Bongo Bong. Instant happiness! This song reminds me of memories that I cherish forever.”

What movie would you watch on a rainy Sunday afternoon?

“Without a doubt a Disney movie. (laughs) Ratatouille is always a good idea!”

What’s your favorite dish?

“I can really enjoy everything. But I prefer savory to sweet.”