For Sony Artisan of Imagery Zabrina Deng’s latest project, she is on a mission to capture portraits of the unsung heroes of San Francisco’s Chinatown – the women who make the community thrive. “Through these portraits I hope to celebrate the challenges and triumphs of their lives while highlighting the beauty of their contributions,” explains Deng.

Each woman profiled in the project will be celebrated for their professional and personal success through portraiture as a way to highlight their beauty and importance in the community. A community activist, a Cantonese opera singer, a poet and rap song composer, a baker – all of these women share deep roots in the Chinatown community. “As a photographer it’s my calling to bring out the beauty from the everyday," says Deng. "It’s very satisfying to see these women look at these portraits with joy and rediscover themselves.”