The Windy Citizen

In this self-portrait, Tong introduces us to The Windy Girl — a curious little creature drawn with the wobble of sincerity and the chaos of good intentions. Her hair? Let’s call it “artistically tousled” — the kind of mess that only a strong gust of personality (or a literal gust of wind) could create. It’s not quite tidy, but then again, neither is life.

Despite the hair situation, she stands with a smile that could charm a thundercloud — polite, respectful, and unmistakably delighted to be here. Her eyes say, “Hello, nice to meet you,” but her hair says, “I’ve been through something.”

This portrait was born during Tong’s sophomore year, in the middle of a class and a moment of spontaneous, slightly embarrassing self-expression — the kind of moment that leaves your face a bit flushed, but your soul a little brighter. It came in response to a class prompt that hit just the right nerve: an unexpected mix of Oh! I know what to say! and Wait… did I just say that out loud?

The Windy Girl, though, takes it all in stride. Her smile is not just cheerful — it’s conspiratorial, as if she’s in on a joke you haven’t heard yet. And maybe you are. 

She’s been named, quite fittingly, The Windy Girl — not just because her hair is an aerodynamic masterpiece, but because she represents that swirling, breezy state between vulnerability and joy. A little wild. A little wise. And utterly unforgettable.

And, coincidentally, this portrait has been collected into the special series The Windy Citizen:)