We speak to the trailblazing women choosing to show off their scars in defiance of archaic beauty standards
What it means to be beautiful is changing. These days, we’re looking beyond Hollywood ideals and choosing to appreciate what’s real – and having much-needed conversations about how that makes us feel.
One important change is the way those who’ve experienced scarring have chosen to start showing them off, celebrating – rather than hiding – their differences. Social media hashtags like #ScarsAreBeautiful, #YouCantCensorMySkin and #ScarsAreCool are cropping up as a means to open the conversation around scarring, with those who share pictures shunning any shame or stigma in the process.
With this in mind, we wanted to find out from the women who’ve chosen to wear their scars with pride how these ‘storylines’ have become a sign of their inner strength, where once they may have felt they were something to hide.
These women are strong, brave and, in many ways, pioneering, eager to change the notion of what feminine beauty, empowerment and confidence really means. It’s inevitable that each woman’s story deals with hardships, but ultimately, this is a celebration of how they turned their trauma around. Here are the storylines of Hannah, Bianca, Aisling and Sylvia, in all their beautiful, raw glory.
Hannah Hodgkiss
Meet Hannah. She’s a 40-year-old beauty therapist and lives in Kenilworth, along with her husband, Simon, and eight-year-old son, Jacob.
‘In 2006, I lost my mother to breast cancer. We were devastated, and this was only made worse by the fact I’d have to be tested for the BRCA1 gene. When it came back that I had the mutation it was a lot to deal with, but I knew what I had to do. In 2017, I underwent a mastectomy followed by reconstructive surgery. Recovery was long and complex, and I was apprehensive about how I might look afterwards. I had the misconception that I wouldn’t get the best look as I went via the NHS as opposed to private. How wrong could I have been? When I looked down I thought that all my scarring and lack of nipples looked so neat. Not only was my cancer risk reduced, but aesthetically, the surgeons worked really hard to make me look good – and I want other women going through this to know that it’s possible to feel great afterwards.
‘I now see my scars as a chance to live a life my mum didn’t get to live. For that, I’m truly grateful.’
Bianca Lawrence
No one oozes effortless cool quite like Bianca Lawrence. She’s 28 years old, from Bradford and is at university studying to be a mental health nurse. And that’s only the start. After recently being signed to a top modelling agency, she’s on the cusp of what’s set to be a dizzyingly successful modelling career. In fact, she’s already fronted a worldwide TV advert for Dove – an achievement she once thought would never be possible.
‘When I was 13, I developed a skin condition called keloid scarring, which is the overgrowth of scar tissue caused by an overproduction of collagen. As a result, I hated my body. I cannot say I’ve had an easy journey, but with time I have blossomed and flourished regardless of my differences. In 2017, I posted two pictures. One was me with my scars and the other was with the scars edited out. The response I received was phenomenal. I believe that if I hadn’t posted the picture on that specific day, I wouldn’t be who I am today – my story has helped those going through the same situation and I have my own keloid advocacy platform now (@keloidsupport) on Instagram.
‘The strength I have attained over the years is incredible. I have always dreamed about accepting myself for who I truly am, while holding my head high. My journey is continuing and I am looking forward to the next chapter with modelling. I’ll be the first model representing keloid skin within the mainstream, so I’m excited for what’s ahead of me. Watch this space!’
Aisling Gallagher
Thirty-year-old retail manager and content creator Aisling has an undeniable zest for life. Just one glance at her Instagram feed and you’re met with bursts of vibrant colours, as lively and joyous as the woman herself. But look a little closer and you’ll notice that Aisling’s account isn’t about perfection and ideals. Instead, her posts serve as an honest portrayal of her life since it was altered beyond recognition in September 2020.
‘Before I was diagnosed with stage 2 rectal cancer, I never had any issues with my body. Sure, we all have bits we don’t like and would change, but overall I was confident in myself. Part of my cancer treatment involved having an anterior resection surgery. I was cut open from under my belly button. I also had to have a stoma placed. I now have three keyhole scars and the latest addition is the scar from my stoma reversal. It was a lot of emotional pain, as well as physical.‘The reality is that I’m not who I was before. While I’ve wished in the past that I look like how I did before, I know I am a better version of my past self. I am proud that I have the confidence to talk about and show my scars off. If I could help anyone else learn to accept theirs, it would be an amazing feeling. To anyone else dealing with such changes, I’d say it’s OK to not be OK – you’re doing the best you can. And remember there will be better, brighter times ahead.’
Sylvia Mac
Sylvia’s a force to be reckoned with. She’s 53, a mother and a grandmother. She’s also a child burns survivor. After a terrible accident involving boiling water when she was only two, she was left with life-changing scars that altered how she felt about her body. Here, she recalls a time when her mother noticed a man trying to video the scars on her back while on holiday in Bulgaria.
‘My mother took me to the beach to get away from it all. As I walked to the water’s edge, I turned around and noticed her looking sad. I didn’t want her to feel this way, so I threw off my sarong showing off my body and my scars. I called out to her to show that I was happy, and strutted my way back to her as if I was on a runway. This moment was the turning point in my life.’
Since then, Sylvia’s gone on to do big things, including founding Love Disfigure, a platform she uses to help people with scars embrace their bodies.
‘I didn’t want others [with scars] to suffer with their mental health, so I uploaded a video sharing how I felt about my scars. The messages I received inspired and empowered me. Since then, I’ve appeared on This Morning, have been part of a Victoria’s Secret campaign and won the Boots Wellness Warrior Award. Through campaigning, I went from burn victim to burn survivor and thriver, sharing photos on Instagram of myself and others in bikinis and underwear. Love Disfigure was a name on everyone’s lips and people were reaching out asking to be part of the movement.’
What message would she give her younger self?
“Understand the word ‘survivor’ and don’t treat it as a throwaway comment. Accept all those compliments. Your scars are your fight for life, your fight for survival. Be proud.”
