My 3+ things:
1. Emotional fortitude - Having overcome many challenges as a child, I've learned to mentally and emotionally weather setbacks, disappointments, failures, and frustrations.
2. Physical strength - I have trained my body to be uncomfortable and apply pressure on it, teaching it to grow and become stronger.
3. My skin - It has always kept me protected (literally and metaphorically). It has grown with me, it is strong and quick to heal. It is tough and soft at the same time.
While I wasn't surprised to see that physical strength was on Denise's list of loves, (after all she's a very passionate personal trainer and even won first place in the first fitness competition she ever entered), I did find it interesting that her other loves also had to do with strength. I began to form this idea in my mind of a warrior, and while envisioning potential ideas for the shoot, I told myself that I would look for her softer side. It wasn't hard to find. As strong and muscular as Denise is, she's more like a butterfly: gentle and colorful but determined to burst out of her cocoon, transform herself and take flight. Ironically, in this shot she does resemble a butterfly. The whole scene was mesmerizing to me. I took it before I even got to the shoot.
BTW, I can attest to Denise's strength and fortitude firsthand: it was extremely cold and windy at the beach that morning. I had three layers on. She braved the elements with not much more than dignified grace and humor.