Georgie Russell, Guarding Tradition (PEOPLE 2026)

A young child from a traditional "kastom" village on Tanna Island, Vanuatu, stands on the volcanic shoreline. Adorned with natural foliage clothing, dried moss hair-coverings, and ritual face paint, the child’s intense, focused gaze captures the fierce independence and enduring heritage of a community that completely rejects modern Westernization in favor of living in harmony with the earth.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.