Embrace your visible difference: a message to my younger self
Embracing your visible difference: Our campaigners share messages to their younger selves, encouraging them to learn to love themselves as they are.
Real stories
Read or listen to real stories from people affected by visible difference, their parents and families, as well as Changing Faces staff and volunteers. Inspired to share your story? We’d love to hear it – share your story now.
All stories
Eli’s story: “I don’t let my scoliosis define or limit me”
Having scoliosis made Eli feel insecure about his body. Now, as a model, he hopes to show people that they deserve to be seen, and to live without shame.
Enoch’s story: “I wouldn’t be me without my cleft lip and palate”
Enoch was bullied because of his cleft, causing him to develop anxiety. While he still has tough days, he’s found a community of people online and in real life who love him for who he is.
Chloe’s story: “Counselling has helped me be kinder to myself”
Being bullied growing up badly impacted Chloe’s mental health. Now she is learning to accept her facial palsy, with the support of loved ones and Changing Faces.
Lacey’s story: “Growing up with a birthmark and Sturge-Weber syndrome”
Lacey was born with a port wine stain birthmark and Sturge-Weber syndrome. Mum Sara hopes that Lacey’s resilience isn’t impacted by the ignorance of others as she grows up.
Mary’s story: “My haemangioma no longer makes me feel less than”
Mary has hidden her haemangioma all her life, but Changing Faces’ counselling service has helped her to break down the walls she’d built around herself.
Jen’s story: “Skin Camouflage helps me live with my telangiectasias”
Jen has telangiectasias on her legs and has been keeping them covered for years. Changing Faces’ Skin Camouflage Service has helped her to step out of her comfort zone.
Equal opportunity: Creating space for actors with visible differences
As an actor, campaigner Beau worries about how their visible difference might limit the roles available to them, due to casting biases. They talk about how actors with visible differences need to be seen on screen as more than just villains.
Halloween: A mask on top of a mask
Campaigner Marc shares why Halloween has always been a complicated time for him. From wearing a Perspex mask after life-changing burns to questioning how visible differences are portrayed in horror culture, Marc invites us to look beneath the layers.
Making sure Halloween is scary for the right reasons
Our Senior Campaigns and Communications Officer, Shelley, shares why Halloween can be tricky for the visible difference community. Let’s make Halloween a treat for everyone.
Savannah’s story: “Navigating life with NF2”
Savannah has found life with NF2 challenging. Counselling from Changing Faces has enabled her to take steps forward to a brighter future.
Confidence after Facial Surgery: Sarah’s story
Sarah shares her journey of living with a facial difference. Today, she’s rebuilding her confidence after facial surgery and hopes to encourage others to see their true worth beyond appearance.