Mexican photographer Pedro Luján Vales didn’t necessarily set out to subvert ideas of overt “machismo” in Mexican culture with his latest series, but it became a natural by-product thanks to his ongoing mission to capture individuality and self-expression. “It was not my main objective to upend machismo, but when you do a project like this, the challenging part comes with it whether it is your intention or not,” stated Luján in an interview with OUT.com. “On the other hand, doing this project gives me the opportunity to show that not all Mexicans are ‘machos’ and close-minded.”

His most recent project features some of Mexico’s top drag performers, including Little Miss Salma, Luna Lasam, Barbara Durango, amongst others, and seeks to challenge gender norms.

The 43-year-old photographer often turns to pop culture for inspiration, and upends- according to OUT.com- “ the existing concepts of masculinity, inserting instead more expansive, inclusive, and intersectional definitions”.