Hello, I’m sophia.
I am a British-Maldivian photojournalist based in Malé, focusing on culture, environment, and visual anthropology in the Maldives, and the writer of the biweekly column Atoll Dispatch for Maldives Independent.
I represent the Maldives for both South Asian Heritage UK and Ocean Culture Life. In addition, I am a member of PhotoAsia’s Decoding the Anthropocene cohort, a Revolutionary Storyteller with Photographers Without Borders, and an ambassador for The Fearless Collective.
Interested in my work? Let’s chat.
Education
GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON MPhil/PhD Visual Anthropology (2026-)
LONDON COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION, UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS LONDON MA Photojournalism & Documentary Photography (2021-2024)
KINGSTON UNIVERSITY BA(Hons) Illustration & Animation (2013-2017)
BRIGHTON MET COLLEGE Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (2012-2013)
FELLOWSHIPS & Scholarships
The Fearless Collective Ambassador Programme (2026)
Photographers Without Borders Revolutionary Storyteller (2025)
Ocean Culture Life Connector Programme (2025)
PhotoAsia Decoding the Anthropocene: Tackling the Climate Crisis (2025)
Creature Conserve Artist Partnership Scholarship (2025)
Exhibitions
Reclamation and the Housing Crisis 2026 Art Gallery Maldives - exhibitor
EARTH PHOTO 2025 Royal Geographical Society - exhibitor
Heritage of the Heart 2025 Central Saint Martins - exhibitor
RBSA Photography Prize 2025 Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Gallery - exhibitor
Women by Women 2025 SE Center of Photography - exhibitor
Postgraduate Selects Autumn 2024 London College of Communication - exhibitor
Free To Be Me 2024 London College of Communication - curator
Who Cares 2024 Fringe Arts Bath Festival - exhibitor
Bill of Health 2024 Lethaby Gallery - exhibitor
Taking Our Time: Finding Creative Peace 2023 Lethaby Gallery - curator
Postgraduate Selects Autumn 2023 London College of Communication - curator
Stories To Tell: Through Our Textiles 2023 Lethaby Gallery - curator
Stories To Tell: Through Our Eyes 2023 London College of Communication - curator
Love & Strength: Through Community 2023 Lethaby Gallery - curator
Postgraduate Selects Spring 2023 London College of Communication - curator
My Body May Be Tired, But My Creative Mind Isn’t 2022 Central Saint Martins - curator
Postgraduate Selects Autumn 2022 London College of Communication - curator
Variations 2022 Safe House 1 & 2 Peckham - exhibitor, curation team
To The Ground 2022 Orleans House Gallery - exhibitor, curation team
More 2017 Oxo Tower Gallery - exhibitor
Talks, Panels & workshops
Storytelling As A Market Access Tool 2025 Maldives Tuna ThinkTank - facilitator & speaker
Renters Reform Coalition 2024 House of Lords at Westminster Palace - panelist
RENTERS! The Student Housing Crisis 2024 Safehouses 1 & 2 Peckham - facilitator & panelist
UAL Arts Awards 2024 University of the Arts London - host
Funding, Food & Shelter: Defending Basic Student Human Rights 2024 Blackpool - policy proposer
Politics & Higher Education 2023 University of Connecticut - facilitator & panelist
Students & The Cost of Living 2023 University of Connecticut - facilitator & panelist
Critiquing the Crit! Safety & Inclusivity in the Arts 2023 University of the Arts London - panelist
Stories To Tell: UAL’s South Asian Heritage 2023 University of the Arts London - moderator
AmaZINEs & Speaking Through Flowers 2023 University of the Arts London - workshop facilitator
Disability History Month: Safe Space Crits 2023 University of the Arts London - co-facilitator
A Bed for Every Student 2023 House of Commons at Westminster Palace - panelist
ACUI International Student Communities 2022 University of Massachusetts - panelist
Queer Minorities Liberation 2022 University of the Arts London - panel host
Freelancing As A Creative 2019 Kingston University - panelist
If you are a recruiter, or looking to hire a photojournalist, you can see my resume and portfolio here.