Earlier this year, the London-based South Indian photographer Keerthana Kunnath happened upon 30-year-old female bodybuilder Arathy Krishna on Instagram during research into the Indian martial art Kalari. “I’d obviously seen bodybuilders from other countries before, but there was something about Arathy that captivated me,” explains Kunnath about their first encounter.

“She has this duality of strength and grace. Most poignantly, she looked like one of us! She’s the girl next door but with this incredible muscular physique.” To Kunnath’s surprise, hours of research uncovered more female bodybuilders dotted across Kerala and Bangalore, and after getting to know the women online, she set out on a road trip across the country to meet them.

Kunnath knew early on that this project required a storytelling approach that went beyond straight documentary. Rather than photograph the bodybuilders at the gym or in a domestic setting, she photographed them against quintessential Keralan backdrops from serene beaches to quiet streets, giving the series an auspicious energy.