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I Started This Campaign To Encourage People Love Themselves With All Their Differences
Hello, I'm Sylvia Mac, a Burn Survivor who is challenging the fashion industry to become inclusive of those with differences and disfigurement.
My campaign involved people with scars, health and skin conditions who were very brave wearing swimwear sponsored by Swimwear365 and photographed by the famous Sophie Mayanne whose project Behind the Scars went viral. With the support of Sharron Davies, I also want to encourage body confidence by sharing my images with leisure centres & help Every Body to Swim without worrying about others staring.
More info: lovedisfigure.com | Instagram | twitter.com
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Final score:
84points
Coffee & Cake 6 years ago
And to think we are able to see the scars on the outside of people, but cannot always see the ones "inside".
Beth Arriaga 6 years ago
Does anyone think we, as humans, will ever get to a point when 'beauty' is FIRST viewed and judged by behavior and actions and then secondly, or even third or fourth, judged on what is on the other shell- skin, hair, size etc? I just want hope that we might get there. When we describe people not as the redhead, the Asian, the tall one (as examples) but rather the nice, the funny, the kind one?
M O'Connell 6 years ago
Unfortunately, it is far easier to refer to someone in passing by their visible qualities. If you were just robbed by someone, would you describe them to the police as an "angry, brooding type" or "a short, fat, bald guy"?
Matthew A 6 years ago
Problem is the fashion industry wants to have people who look good promoting their clothes... although I'm not saying these woman are ugly, I'm just saying that I honestly don't strive to be a burn survivor or have a skin condition and companies want to use models that people strive to look like, so they will buy their clothes that's just how the fashion industry works and if you don't like it just don't buy their clothes 🤷🏼♂️
Love (Submission author) 6 years ago
How sad. I'm the creator of this Photoshoot who wouldn't normally give people like you Drew the time of day. However there are young children, baby in these photos and I always say that anyone anytime in their life can have surgery, accident or come across a health or skin condition. Furthermore I myself am in these pics Im also a Burn Survivor and have a Strength like you would never obtain in your life unless you go through what we go through everyday of our life #equality #diversity. Enjoy your weekend
Load More Replies... 
Sandra Molehele 6 years ago
This DREW AND SMITH guys think they are perfect but no they are not just say they had to go through whatever this beautiful souls went through in life would they have stand tall and face the world ?,,,i dont think so and do you know what Drew and Smith they feel perfect in their own skin i bet you dont thats why you going around and spreading your insecurities
Kizzy Brockall 6 years ago
This is not nice to say about us we are all Beautiful and we all will rise above your horrid comment as obviously u don’t have no manners at all I hope you don’t have to ever go Through what we all have we are Beautiful xx
RELATED:
#2
Final score:
75points
Charlotte Brine 6 years ago
My ex once said to me the first night we spent together after I said "I hate them" (my scars). "You should never hate them. Yes they show that you've struggled with bad times but to me they tell me that despite what has happened to you in the past those scars are proof that you were strong, strong enough to fight through everything and anything and come out the other end. And because of that, I think your scars are beautiful".
#3
Final score:
71points
Dr. Pink Unicorn 6 years ago
I really want to hang out with these ladies, hear their stories, learn how they've become so strong (all the women look incredibly strong) and at peace with their own beauty despite overwhelming and unrealistic beauty standards. Sooo empowering!!!
#4
Final score:
70points
Marta Puig Orriols 6 years ago
her face, her smile reveals the strenght she has. Thank God for a post that is not about what we see first. I love each and every picture. WARRIOR.
#5
Final score:
70points
#6
Final score:
68points
#7
Final score:
68points
#8
Final score:
67points
#9
Final score:
64points
#10
Final score:
60points
#11
Final score:
56points
#12
Final score:
52points
#13
Final score:
50points
#14
Final score:
50points
#17
Final score:
46points
#20
Final score:
44points
#21
Final score:
39points
#23
Final score:
38points
#24
Final score:
37points
Amy Bristol 7 years ago
I have no idea what skin condition she has. Unless it's alopecia. Her skin looks flawless. I hate her a little bit. Lol!
#25
Final score:
36points
#27
Final score:
29points
#28
Final score:
29points
Sylvia Mac's advocacy for body confidence and inclusivity in the fashion industry reflects a broader need for societal acceptance and understanding. Much like how candidates face unrealistic expectations and biases during job searches, individuals with visible differences also encounter unjust hurdles in various walks of life.
Open conversations about these challenges are essential, as discussed in conversations around unrealistic job requirements.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Merty Robinson 7 years ago
When I think of how much it hurts when you burn your hand on the oven shelf, or your lip on a pizza, and then I look at the extent of some of these scars...wow. Those people have endured real pain, and come through smiling. Amazing.
MonsterMash 7 years ago
I love this! It’s so rare we get to see what actual people look like, and to have them photographed professionally and beautifully is great. For some reason we only get access to fake, photoshopped and extremely well cultivated physiques to consume. I love seeing real people. I’m tired of looking at paper dolls and plastic sculptures that mock the human form
FABULOUS1 7 years ago
What a great campaign and an awesome reminder to love yourself no matter what. Seeing these will remind me to never complain about the varying skin tones that i have on my face that seem to get worse for me with age. I actually used to always wear concealer to cover it up, but stopped long ago because i just dont like to wear makeup.
Furious_Lover 6 years ago
I’m albino and this actually helped me a bit. I now know being different isn’t so bad.
Betari Solihati 6 years ago
I've been dealing with keratosis pilaris for years and so scars doesn't bother me anymore. Something that bothers me the most is the way people look disgustedly at my scars and keep questioning like I have infectious disease. Less scars changes people. Other people does.
Gayle Bynum Cardosa 6 years ago
Whoever chose the colors of swimsuits and lipstick, etc. did a fantastic job. The colors are really great. My father has a terrible scar on his back from accidentally pulling a boiling teakettle of water down on himself when he was a toddler. He has a tattoo over it and said the tattoo was extra painful. He's 82 now but that scar of course, remains from childhood. I like what Padma Lakshmi does with her scar on her arm. It's called Kintsugi.
jenna 7 years ago
It would be more powerful if I knew the stories behind the photo's. But, maybe leaving the stories out is part of the exercise here.
Sylvi Mac 7 years ago
Hi Jenna I will be sharing their stories on Instagram, facebook (LOVE DISFIGURE) group Everyone has either scars, health or skin conditions....some hidden differences/disfigurements :)
Load More Replies... Sylvi Mac 6 years ago
Jenna I meant the people in the picture not the whole world that's certainly not possible. I am disfigured, in fact I'm in the pictures as I fell into boiling water and spent my whole life self body hating. I do not call people disfigured as I understand everyone is different and unique. Some people like the word differences etc and I don't personally accept the word defect, in fact I don't have a defect. I am not in competition with anyone, I am here to try and make a difference for those who suffered all their life and continue to suffer. I was scouted to become a model then turned away for having scars. My life went downhill and I wanted to commit suicide as I realised I was actually ugly and not accepted in society. Please try and understand that this is a positive photoshoot and I am trying to open up doors for people with health conditions, skin conditions and scars who are not represented in society as their differences or disfigurements exist whether visible or hidden
jenna 7 years ago
Lol Sylvi. You have not enough lifetime left if you want to make an inventory of all people scarred, visible or not. However, your photo's made me wonder. That is what a good photo should do. And, yes, I am "disfigured" too if you would want to see it in that respect. However, I would never use that word. Because I am jenna. Someone with a unique combination of talents and defects. And it made me to what I am now. Everyone is her/his own unique combination of their talents and defects. And let's celebrate that, and help each other out with the defects through your talents.
John Louis 6 years ago
Here is a QUESTION. Do you think that we as a society will ever overcome the ridiculous sense of idealized, impossible to achieve false perfection?
Kittie Meow 6 years ago
Why do we need to even comment on someone's looks. Every single person looks different, celebrate our individuality. Stop searching for the right physical compliment to make feel better
BarryAllenTheFlash 6 years ago
They are all so beautiful and unique in their own special ways. How can they keep smiling after all of the pain they've endured eludes me.
Rafaella Bueno 6 years ago
While I also would like to know, I do think that not knowing their stories is actually more powerful for the cause. People are more often than not judged based on their looks alone, with no time to nor interest in knowing their stories. A lot of people wouldn't judge them as harshly if they knew their stories, and that's the point - they shouldn't need to know that to treat them well. Their looks alone shouldn't be a reason to treat someone badly. Some people don't have dramatic stories - they were just born not so aesthetically pleasant - and they still shouldn't be treated badly for it.
A.McL 6 years ago
How about we just stop emphasizing physical beauty and focus on the individuals personality/soul/ spirit. This idea of pretending everything/ everyone is SO beautiful is silly. Some people are physically attractive by our cultural standards and some aren't. Some people are tall, some short, some smart, some creative etc etc. Stop feeding the beast that says everyone must be beautiful and start emphasizing inner beauty. If we did that no one would give a damn about scars, fat, and stretch marks.
Kai Burnstien 6 years ago
Yours scars are a timeline of all the pain you have endured, and prove how strong you are!
Merty Robinson 7 years ago
When I think of how much it hurts when you burn your hand on the oven shelf, or your lip on a pizza, and then I look at the extent of some of these scars...wow. Those people have endured real pain, and come through smiling. Amazing.
MonsterMash 7 years ago
I love this! It’s so rare we get to see what actual people look like, and to have them photographed professionally and beautifully is great. For some reason we only get access to fake, photoshopped and extremely well cultivated physiques to consume. I love seeing real people. I’m tired of looking at paper dolls and plastic sculptures that mock the human form
FABULOUS1 7 years ago
What a great campaign and an awesome reminder to love yourself no matter what. Seeing these will remind me to never complain about the varying skin tones that i have on my face that seem to get worse for me with age. I actually used to always wear concealer to cover it up, but stopped long ago because i just dont like to wear makeup.
Furious_Lover 6 years ago
I’m albino and this actually helped me a bit. I now know being different isn’t so bad.
Betari Solihati 6 years ago
I've been dealing with keratosis pilaris for years and so scars doesn't bother me anymore. Something that bothers me the most is the way people look disgustedly at my scars and keep questioning like I have infectious disease. Less scars changes people. Other people does.
Gayle Bynum Cardosa 6 years ago
Whoever chose the colors of swimsuits and lipstick, etc. did a fantastic job. The colors are really great. My father has a terrible scar on his back from accidentally pulling a boiling teakettle of water down on himself when he was a toddler. He has a tattoo over it and said the tattoo was extra painful. He's 82 now but that scar of course, remains from childhood. I like what Padma Lakshmi does with her scar on her arm. It's called Kintsugi.
jenna 7 years ago
It would be more powerful if I knew the stories behind the photo's. But, maybe leaving the stories out is part of the exercise here.
Sylvi Mac 7 years ago
Hi Jenna I will be sharing their stories on Instagram, facebook (LOVE DISFIGURE) group Everyone has either scars, health or skin conditions....some hidden differences/disfigurements :)
Load More Replies... Sylvi Mac 6 years ago
Jenna I meant the people in the picture not the whole world that's certainly not possible. I am disfigured, in fact I'm in the pictures as I fell into boiling water and spent my whole life self body hating. I do not call people disfigured as I understand everyone is different and unique. Some people like the word differences etc and I don't personally accept the word defect, in fact I don't have a defect. I am not in competition with anyone, I am here to try and make a difference for those who suffered all their life and continue to suffer. I was scouted to become a model then turned away for having scars. My life went downhill and I wanted to commit suicide as I realised I was actually ugly and not accepted in society. Please try and understand that this is a positive photoshoot and I am trying to open up doors for people with health conditions, skin conditions and scars who are not represented in society as their differences or disfigurements exist whether visible or hidden
jenna 7 years ago
Lol Sylvi. You have not enough lifetime left if you want to make an inventory of all people scarred, visible or not. However, your photo's made me wonder. That is what a good photo should do. And, yes, I am "disfigured" too if you would want to see it in that respect. However, I would never use that word. Because I am jenna. Someone with a unique combination of talents and defects. And it made me to what I am now. Everyone is her/his own unique combination of their talents and defects. And let's celebrate that, and help each other out with the defects through your talents.
John Louis 6 years ago
Here is a QUESTION. Do you think that we as a society will ever overcome the ridiculous sense of idealized, impossible to achieve false perfection?
Kittie Meow 6 years ago
Why do we need to even comment on someone's looks. Every single person looks different, celebrate our individuality. Stop searching for the right physical compliment to make feel better
BarryAllenTheFlash 6 years ago
They are all so beautiful and unique in their own special ways. How can they keep smiling after all of the pain they've endured eludes me.
Rafaella Bueno 6 years ago
While I also would like to know, I do think that not knowing their stories is actually more powerful for the cause. People are more often than not judged based on their looks alone, with no time to nor interest in knowing their stories. A lot of people wouldn't judge them as harshly if they knew their stories, and that's the point - they shouldn't need to know that to treat them well. Their looks alone shouldn't be a reason to treat someone badly. Some people don't have dramatic stories - they were just born not so aesthetically pleasant - and they still shouldn't be treated badly for it.
A.McL 6 years ago
How about we just stop emphasizing physical beauty and focus on the individuals personality/soul/ spirit. This idea of pretending everything/ everyone is SO beautiful is silly. Some people are physically attractive by our cultural standards and some aren't. Some people are tall, some short, some smart, some creative etc etc. Stop feeding the beast that says everyone must be beautiful and start emphasizing inner beauty. If we did that no one would give a damn about scars, fat, and stretch marks.
Kai Burnstien 6 years ago
Yours scars are a timeline of all the pain you have endured, and prove how strong you are!
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