{"id":1803383,"date":"2026-03-03T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1803383"},"modified":"2026-03-03T08:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T05:00:00","slug":"candid-photos-capture-life-inside-a-womens-prison-in-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1803383","title":{"rendered":"Candid photos capture life inside a women\u2019s prison in Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/0-0-2967-1978\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439826.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"main-article standard \">\n<div class=\"article-main-content article-wrapper has-media-but-its-an-image\" data-status=\"loaded\" data-primary-article=\"true\" data-url=\"\/art-photography\/article\/69791\/1\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2-womens-prison-mexico-photo-project-documentary\" data-article-id=\"69791\">\n<header class=\"article-header has-landscape-image no-media\">\n<div class=\"wrapper dg-max-width\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<figure class=\"main-img has-figcaption\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.52\" data-template=\"Standard Article\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1978\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1400\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439826.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"inner\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"meta\">\n<div class=\"inner\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-03T08:00:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"03 March 2026\"><span class=\"month\">March<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"3\">3,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"titles\">\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<div class=\"sections\"><a class=\"category vertical - art-photography\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\">Art &amp; Photography<\/a><br \/>\n\/<br \/>\n<a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/last-shot\">Last Shot<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"standard-tag-container\"><a class=\"standard-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\">Art &amp; Photography<\/a> \/<br \/>\n<a class=\"standard-series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/last-shot\">Last Shot<\/a><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"title\"><span>Candid photos capture life inside a women\u2019s prison <span class=\"nowrap\">in Mexico<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<div class=\"standfirst\">\n<h2>Having been granted unique access to a high-security prison in Canc\u00fan, photographer Chloe Kerleroux captured the importance of beauty rituals as a form of \u2018dignity and <span class=\"nowrap\">intimate resistance\u2019<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-03-03T08:00:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"03 March 2026\"><span class=\"month\">March<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"3\">3,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-03-03T08:00:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"03 March 2026\"><span class=\"month\">March<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"3\">3,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"providers\">\n<div class=\"contributors\"><span class=\"contributor\" data-contributor-role=\"Text\"><span class=\"contributor-role\">Text<\/span><a class=\"contributor-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/user\/GemFletcher\">Gem Fletcher<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"dazed-gallery has-11-images \">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<header>\n<div class=\"info\"><span class=\"heading\">Chloe Kerleroux, <span class=\"nowrap\">Modulo 2<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"gallery\">\n<div class=\"gallery-thumbs\">\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36779\/0\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439832.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36779\/1\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439825.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36779\/2\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1978\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-2967-1978\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439826.jpg\" width=\"2967\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36779\/3\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-1073-2000-1333\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439828.jpg\" width=\"2000\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36779\/4\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1915\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-2872-1915\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439829.jpg\" width=\"2872\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36779\/5\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-210-2000-1333\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439834.jpg\" width=\"2000\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-footer\">Gallery \/ 11 images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Earlier this year, photographer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/chloe_kerleroux\/\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/a> visited Modulo 2, a wing within Canc\u00fan\u2019s high-security women\u2019s prison CERESO. The facility, which was formerly occupied by leaders of criminal networks and under the highest security level, was recently reassigned to incarcerated women under new leadership who have reimagined living conditions within the prison. Today, 284 women live in Modulo 2, with access to a wide range of activities from sport and education to craft and spiritual support.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Kerleroux \u2013 <\/span><span>who spent two years trying to gain access to the prison \u2013 <\/span><span>was interested in exploring femininity and intimate resistance within the confines of incarceration. She was inspired by <em>High<\/em>, a documentary which follows Michaella McCollum, an Irish woman who was caught trafficking cocaine and imprisoned in Peru, but eventually finds her place in the prison beauty salon. \u201cThe film was a real revelation to me,\u201d explains Kerleroux. \u201cIt illustrated how beauty practices and body adornment could offer dignity and affirmation even in such a constrained environment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Kerleroux\u2019s images, which are raw and spontaneous, sit between reportage, street photography, and portraiture. Her approach is focused on proximity, collecting the small and often overlooked moments of everyday life that, together, reveal the larger social dynamics of the environment. Kerleroux and her translator, Marie Cousin, were granted three days\u2019 access to the prison. \u201cSome inmates were very welcoming, others were cautious at first,&#8221; recalls Kerleroux. \u201cBut I\u2019ve found in any context, if your approach is sincere and respectful, it usually generates reciprocity. Today, we are constantly bombarded by shocking images that end up trivialising pain and trauma. With this project, I hope to illustrate how some prisons strive to preserve inmates\u2019 dignity, offering some hope in an often desperate context.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Below, Chloe Kerleroux reflects, in her own words, on the making of Modulo 2 and the challenges that came with it.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"720cb126-6738-48b8-a816-b40100c0680e\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439832.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439832.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cAt first glance, there is a real energy of sisterhood in the prison: most even speak of it as family. Some relationships are familial in the literal sense, with multiple generations confined together, or friendly, with inmates who have known each other before. There are also a few couples, which shapes the dynamic. Despite this solidarity, it is still a closed, all-female environment, which can sometimes create tensions where communal life remains complex and hierarchical. Moreover, there is no psychiatric service in Canc\u00fan: some inmates have disabilities or psychological disorders, like bipolar, and deep depressions can disrupt daily life. Showing this emotional range was essential: it reflects the complexity of their daily lives, the coexistence of resilience, femininity, and joy with the harsh challenges of prison life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"c95dd14d-8013-4e12-adf2-b40100cd1191\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439838.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.4\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"2140\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439838.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cThe inmates\u2019 day starts early, around 6:30am, with washing up and breakfast in the cell, each one housing seven to eight women. From 9 to 10am, the day is punctuated by multiple activities organised by different associations; this ranges from sports, creative workshops and French to human rights classes and spiritual interventions. They can also make brief calls to loved ones once a day. Lunch takes place in the cell, and then the rest of the day is dedicated to quieter moments: reading, knitting and drawing, before dinner and lights out. With so many workshops in parallel, each day is different, and these routines structure daily life in a collective way.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"18543cfc-1aa2-42b1-9ad5-b40100cd13bb\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439839.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.53\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1341\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439839.jpg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cWhen the new director arrived, CERESO Cancun was rated level 31 \u2013 the worst being 32.\u00a0 In less than two years, he brought it to level 18, creating a drastic change for the inmates\u2019 lives. He maximised reintegration programs, including the creation of a brand-new daycare for children. I was postpartum and left my baby to make this work, which wasn\u2019t easy, but when I encountered the inmates who are also new mothers and witnessed their strength, taking care of their young children in confinement, I was incredibly moved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"73c553f7-5a9f-4fb1-b3da-b40100c02d3f\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439825.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439825.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cInitially, when I began the project, I\u2019d imagined a real beauty salon within the prison environment. In reality, there was no dedicated space, and beauty-related objects are not part of everyday life and are only allowed on rare occasions. While everything is limited, I was struck by the women\u2019s ability to work around these constraints: they improvise, tinker, add discreet details, and colour their nails with what they have. These are not grand gestures, but micro-acts of resistance and self-assertion.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"d9e73111-b14b-4f8d-8939-b40100c035d1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439826.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.52\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1978\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439826.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cI was fortunate to witness a rare moment: the return of the inmates\u2019 beauty materials. The energy of certain women changed radically \u2013 an incredible softness and pride emerged, revealing their striking femininity. Some, who might have seemed tough or intimidating, were completely transformed: their energy shifted, and this moment revealed a form of intimate resistance and dignity beyond anything I had imagined. Even the more introverted women, encouraged by friends and prepared by other inmates, gained remarkable confidence. It was deeply moving to see them feel beautiful.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"a560c0e2-56a4-4596-a534-b40100cd05e7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439836.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.53\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1962\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439836.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cTattoos are deeply rooted in Mexican culture, in Mexico and many inmates wear Santa Muerte tattoos. One of my previous projects documented the Santa Muerte procession in Tepito, where I learned of the power of this spiritual figure and how people seeking forgiveness or protection are drawn to this icon.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"dbaabaf3-fd58-49a1-aa91-b40100cd0857\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439837.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439837.jpg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cEbellia [right] is currently in pre-trial detention and facing charges, with her daughter [pictured left]. She never once lost her smile and carries a deep sense of gentleness. Often absorbed in reading her Bible, she finds a daily form of grounding in faith. She spoke to us about how a single mistake can alter the course of a life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"0ac73ce5-cf09-4281-91da-b40100c07e7c\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439835.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439835.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cBeyond simply feeling beautiful, standing in front of the camera, with the possibility that these images might circulate beyond the prison walls, seemed to intensify the inmate\u2019s posture and presence. The camera became, perhaps, a messenger between inside and outside, carrying their image, their dignity, and their femininity into the free world. It allowed them to fully embody their femininity and assert their identity beyond confinement.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. 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Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"dazed-gallery has-11-images \">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<header>\n<div class=\"info\"><span class=\"heading\">Chloe Kerleroux, <span class=\"nowrap\">Modulo 2<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"gallery\">\n<div class=\"gallery-thumbs\">\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36779\/0\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439832.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36779\/1\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439825.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36779\/2\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1978\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-2967-1978\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439826.jpg\" width=\"2967\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36779\/3\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-1073-2000-1333\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439828.jpg\" width=\"2000\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36779\/4\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1915\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-2872-1915\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439829.jpg\" width=\"2872\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/gallery\/36779\/5\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-210-2000-1333\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439834.jpg\" width=\"2000\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-footer\">Gallery \/ 11 images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Earlier this year, photographer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/chloe_kerleroux\/\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/a> visited Modulo 2, a wing within Canc\u00fan\u2019s high-security women\u2019s prison CERESO. The facility, which was formerly occupied by leaders of criminal networks and under the highest security level, was recently reassigned to incarcerated women under new leadership who have reimagined living conditions within the prison. Today, 284 women live in Modulo 2, with access to a wide range of activities from sport and education to craft and spiritual support.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Kerleroux \u2013 <\/span><span>who spent two years trying to gain access to the prison \u2013 <\/span><span>was interested in exploring femininity and intimate resistance within the confines of incarceration. She was inspired by <em>High<\/em>, a documentary which follows Michaella McCollum, an Irish woman who was caught trafficking cocaine and imprisoned in Peru, but eventually finds her place in the prison beauty salon. \u201cThe film was a real revelation to me,\u201d explains Kerleroux. \u201cIt illustrated how beauty practices and body adornment could offer dignity and affirmation even in such a constrained environment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Kerleroux\u2019s images, which are raw and spontaneous, sit between reportage, street photography, and portraiture. Her approach is focused on proximity, collecting the small and often overlooked moments of everyday life that, together, reveal the larger social dynamics of the environment. Kerleroux and her translator, Marie Cousin, were granted three days\u2019 access to the prison. \u201cSome inmates were very welcoming, others were cautious at first,&#8221; recalls Kerleroux. \u201cBut I\u2019ve found in any context, if your approach is sincere and respectful, it usually generates reciprocity. Today, we are constantly bombarded by shocking images that end up trivialising pain and trauma. With this project, I hope to illustrate how some prisons strive to preserve inmates\u2019 dignity, offering some hope in an often desperate context.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Below, Chloe Kerleroux reflects, in her own words, on the making of Modulo 2 and the challenges that came with it.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"720cb126-6738-48b8-a816-b40100c0680e\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439832.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439832.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cAt first glance, there is a real energy of sisterhood in the prison: most even speak of it as family. Some relationships are familial in the literal sense, with multiple generations confined together, or friendly, with inmates who have known each other before. There are also a few couples, which shapes the dynamic. Despite this solidarity, it is still a closed, all-female environment, which can sometimes create tensions where communal life remains complex and hierarchical. Moreover, there is no psychiatric service in Canc\u00fan: some inmates have disabilities or psychological disorders, like bipolar, and deep depressions can disrupt daily life. Showing this emotional range was essential: it reflects the complexity of their daily lives, the coexistence of resilience, femininity, and joy with the harsh challenges of prison life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"c95dd14d-8013-4e12-adf2-b40100cd1191\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439838.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.4\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"2140\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439838.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cThe inmates\u2019 day starts early, around 6:30am, with washing up and breakfast in the cell, each one housing seven to eight women. From 9 to 10am, the day is punctuated by multiple activities organised by different associations; this ranges from sports, creative workshops and French to human rights classes and spiritual interventions. They can also make brief calls to loved ones once a day. Lunch takes place in the cell, and then the rest of the day is dedicated to quieter moments: reading, knitting and drawing, before dinner and lights out. With so many workshops in parallel, each day is different, and these routines structure daily life in a collective way.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"18543cfc-1aa2-42b1-9ad5-b40100cd13bb\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439839.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.53\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1341\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439839.jpg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cWhen the new director arrived, CERESO Cancun was rated level 31 \u2013 the worst being 32.\u00a0 In less than two years, he brought it to level 18, creating a drastic change for the inmates\u2019 lives. He maximised reintegration programs, including the creation of a brand-new daycare for children. I was postpartum and left my baby to make this work, which wasn\u2019t easy, but when I encountered the inmates who are also new mothers and witnessed their strength, taking care of their young children in confinement, I was incredibly moved.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"73c553f7-5a9f-4fb1-b3da-b40100c02d3f\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439825.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439825.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cInitially, when I began the project, I\u2019d imagined a real beauty salon within the prison environment. In reality, there was no dedicated space, and beauty-related objects are not part of everyday life and are only allowed on rare occasions. While everything is limited, I was struck by the women\u2019s ability to work around these constraints: they improvise, tinker, add discreet details, and colour their nails with what they have. These are not grand gestures, but micro-acts of resistance and self-assertion.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"d9e73111-b14b-4f8d-8939-b40100c035d1\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439826.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.52\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1978\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439826.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cI was fortunate to witness a rare moment: the return of the inmates\u2019 beauty materials. The energy of certain women changed radically \u2013 an incredible softness and pride emerged, revealing their striking femininity. Some, who might have seemed tough or intimidating, were completely transformed: their energy shifted, and this moment revealed a form of intimate resistance and dignity beyond anything I had imagined. Even the more introverted women, encouraged by friends and prepared by other inmates, gained remarkable confidence. It was deeply moving to see them feel beautiful.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"a560c0e2-56a4-4596-a534-b40100cd05e7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439836.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.53\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1962\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439836.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cTattoos are deeply rooted in Mexican culture, in Mexico and many inmates wear Santa Muerte tattoos. One of my previous projects documented the Santa Muerte procession in Tepito, where I learned of the power of this spiritual figure and how people seeking forgiveness or protection are drawn to this icon.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"dbaabaf3-fd58-49a1-aa91-b40100cd0857\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439837.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439837.jpg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cEbellia [right] is currently in pre-trial detention and facing charges, with her daughter [pictured left]. She never once lost her smile and carries a deep sense of gentleness. Often absorbed in reading her Bible, she finds a daily form of grounding in faith. She spoke to us about how a single mistake can alter the course of a life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"0ac73ce5-cf09-4281-91da-b40100c07e7c\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439835.jpg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.5\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chloe Kerleroux, Modulo 2\" class=\"img\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439835.jpg\" width=\"3000\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"credit\">Photography by <span class=\"nowrap\">Chloe Kerleroux<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em>\u201cBeyond simply feeling beautiful, standing in front of the camera, with the possibility that these images might circulate beyond the prison walls, seemed to intensify the inmate\u2019s posture and presence. The camera became, perhaps, a messenger between inside and outside, carrying their image, their dignity, and their femininity into the free world. It allowed them to fully embody their femininity and assert their identity beyond confinement.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69791\/1\/chloe-kerleroux-modulo-2-womens-prison-mexico-photo-project-documentary&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/0-0-2967-1978\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/9\/1439826.jpg&#8221;] Photography by Chloe Kerleroux March\u00a0 3,\u00a0 2026 Art &amp; Photography \/ Last Shot Art &amp; Photography \/ Last Shot Candid photos capture life inside a women\u2019s prison in Mexico Having been granted unique access to a high-security prison in Canc\u00fan, photographer Chloe Kerleroux captured the importance of beauty rituals as a form [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,76],"class_list":["post-1803383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dazeddigital-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1803383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1803383"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1803383\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1803383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1803383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1803383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}