‘They needed a grandmother and I told them: I’m coming’
This is how direct Maxine Woodside was when photographer Uriel Santana proposed something she had never done before: a photo session without clothes. At 77 years old, the voice of “Everything for Women” accepted the challenge. Not on a whim, but for a powerful reason.
“When he spoke to me, I had never shown myself without clothes, because it is not a body like the one girls with a small waist have. They needed a grandmother and I told them: ‘I’m going.'”
Trust was key. Santana is not a stranger. It’s someone you’ve known for years, someone you trust. That made the yes come almost naturally.
“Now that we met again, we had the same affection, respect and admiration. That is the only advantage of being a grandmother, that you have known everyone since they were little.”
A project to remove the masks
The session is part of “The Forms of the Soul”, Santana’s new exhibition. The idea is simple but radical: show the human body away from filters, stereotypes and prejudices. Pure honesty.
Woodside is not alone in this adventure. Figures such as Erika Buenfil, Aylín Mujica, José Ron and Bárbara Mori also joined. They all left behind comfortable public roles to be vulnerable and authentic in front of the camera.
After more than 25 years behind the lens, Santana managed to bring this diverse group together. The result is a collection that seeks to change the way we look at our bodies.
If you want to see it, you have to stop by the Live Aqua Bosques Hotel, in Bosques de las Lomas. The exhibition is already set up and ready for you to tour. An invitation to see beyond the skin.




