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For the past few years, South African photographer Paul Shiakallis has been documenting the lives of a group of leather-clad women from Botswana's heavy metal subculture known as the “Marok,” which means “rocker” in the local Seyswana language. In his photo series “Leathered Skins, Unchained Hearts,” Shiakallis highlights the lives of these women — they refer to themselves as “Queens” and go by their Queen alter-egos — who are trying to express themselves by defying a patriarchal society.

According to Shiakallis, being a “Marok” is harder for women than men because they face a lot more criticism from public. “Some women were still “coming-out” as rockers and were not ready to be photographed,” Shiakallis told BuzzFeed. “In other situations, men would thwart the shoots because they did not want their women to be in the presence of another man (me, the photographer) or to have the recognition of being a Marok.”

Paul Shiakallis / Via paulshiakallis.com

Debbie Baone Superpower

Paul Shiakallis / Via paulshiakallis.com

Bonolo

Paul Shiakallis

Florah Dylon and her son Younggal Bison

Paul Shiakallis

Katie Dekesu

Paul Shiakallis

Florence

Paul Shiakallis

Lucrutiah

Paul Shiakallis

Ludo Dignified Queen Morima

Paul Shiakallis

Paul Shiakallis

Paul Shiakallis

Queen Bone

Paul Shiakallis

Paul Shiakallis

Shatani

Paul Shiakallis

Sierra

Paul Shiakallis

Snyder

Paul Shiakallis

Vaselyn G-Wawa

Paul Shiakallis

Paul Shiakallis

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