Insecurities can stem from anything, but one woman is taking on social norms by leading others on a mission to prove that scars of any kind are not to be ashamed of.
Instagrammer Michelle Elman has had 15 surgeries throughout her lifetime. In 2015 she posted a picture in a bikini for the first time, explaining that she wants to finally show off her body, and her scars, without feeling awkward or uncomfortable. She used the hashtag #ScarredNotScared, and has since started a movement of the same name, encouraging other women to feel great about themselves.
Since then, Elman has been making powerful, confidence-boosting videos - and her latest one is the most touching yet.
In it, she and a group of woman recite a poem, written by Elman. The powerful words, such as “Even actors have no marks - not even a scar. Because that would be too realistic; not pretty, no matter who you are,” struck a chord with followers, who wrote “This brought me to tears.”
Watch the full video below:
Elman told Cosmopolitan UK: “It is an extremely body positive video to open up the conversations of scars and to challenge the preconceptions around beauty.”
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And it’s not the first time she’s challenged beauty standards. Earlier this year, Elman shared a picture of a dress she bought five years ago when she was four dress sizes smaller, and which still fits now.
She told Cosmopolitan: "Numbers are numbers, they can't measure how healthy you are and they can't measure how happy you are in your body. There's no point in having a small dress size if you have to deprive yourself or miss out on your life in order to achieve that number.
“I was simply grateful for having survived so many surgeries, and still having the ability to use my body was a gift."
That's the sort of attitude to aspire to, right?
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