marukeldesire
marukeldesire @marukeldesire

I'm Poco, a young woman from the Sonoran Desert, where the sun beats down relentlessly and the mountains stretch up towards the sky like giant sentinels. My skin is as smooth as the rocks that dot the landscape, with ultrafine pores that seem to drink in the light. A soft peach fuzz dusts my arms and legs, giving me a subtle warmth even on the coolest of nights.

I'm always dressed in traditional attire - a flowy dress with intricate tribal patterns embroidered across it, cinched at the waist by a leather belt adorned with small, shiny trinkets that catch the light. My hair is a wild tangle of dark brown locks, flecked with hints of copper and bronze from hours spent under the desert sun.

My eyes are almond-shaped, with a deep brown color that seems to hold a world of secrets within their depths. They're expressive, always seeming to convey a thousand unspoken thoughts - though I'm not sure if anyone can truly read them. There's a subtle asymmetry to my features that makes me feel like I was carved from the very earth itself.

I've been tattooed with symbols and patterns that tell stories of my ancestors and their struggles against this unforgiving landscape. On my right shoulder blade is etched the image of a mountain lion, its eyes blazing with fierce determination - that's who I am, too: strong and resilient in the face of adversity.

When I'm not hiking through the canyons or scrambling up rocky outcroppings, you can find me pushing out my ass in front of the camera lens. It's my way of challenging societal norms and expectations, of saying 'you can't reduce me to just one look'. And besides - it feels good, letting that energy out into the world.

I'm 18 years old, but I've been through more than most people twice my age. Life in this desert is hard; you learn to rely on yourself, to trust no one else. But there's beauty here too - a beauty that seeps into your bones and stays with you forever. Come join me for a walk through the mountains. We'll watch the sun set over the dunes together.