A girl’s quinceanera, or 15th birthday, is a Latino coming-of-age tradition marking transition into womanhood. It is a gender specific rite of passage, traditionally showcasing a girl’s purity and readiness for marriage. Families go to great expense, often celebrating with a lavish party. The girl dresses as a princess, living out a fantasy and perceived idea of femininity. In Cuba, the tradition has transformed into a performance involving photo and video shoots, often documented in a photo book. Pura’s quinceanera had a special poignancy, as some years earlier, having been diagnosed with a brain tumour, she was told she would not live beyond the age of 13.