Since the eruption of the war in Syria in 2011, some 3.5 million displaced Syrian refugees have settled in Turkey. Half of the people affected are children. Though some have thrived in their new home, others continue to struggle under the weight of tremendous economic problems, navigating foreign social systems and learning a new language. “I AM BEAUTIFUL BUT MY DESTINY...” looks at one of the most vulnerable groups affected by the realities of war and forced migration - underage girls. Many have lost their fathers, brothers, and other relatives whom they have traditionally relied on for support. Young girls are often forced to leave school and are left isolated at home. Marriage comes as one solution. Child marriage rates are now estimated to be four times higher among Syrian refugees today than before the crisis began in 2011. Many families see it as a way to “protect” the girls from the outside world – and, in a way, to control them.The legal age of marriage in Turkey is 18 without parental consent. Syrian marriages are typically held under the radar and without official documents from the state as only religious ceremonies, not formally recognized by the courts. Even though this is against Turkish law, the phenomenon is largely overlooked in Turkish society. My aim through this project is to explore the vulnerabilities of underage refugees. Through spending time with young people in their private spaces, I attempt to understand the circumstances that lead to their sometimes harsh realities as well as the consequences of their decisions. I started this project in 2017 and I am still following some of the girls in the photos. When I started this project, I wanted to show both sides of the story: that while some girls ended up in underage marriages, others were able to continue their education. But family pressure and the added effects of the pandemic in the last year made the situation worse, and more young girls ended up in underage marriages.