Real stories

Rob speaks about the importance of being an ally to people with visible differences, and why empathy is the key to everything.

For the visible difference community, Halloween can be a terrifying reminder of the association between difference and monstrosity. Campaigner Chris believes films aren’t helping.

Dressing up for Halloween is part of the fun, but Sophie is asking people to think about the impact of using a condition as a costume.

Bullying made Lizzy lose her self-confidence, but through challenging herself, she now sees her cleft as a source of strength.

Dean shares his journey with alopecia areata, and why he's trying to break down the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and alopecia.

When Kimberley’s son, Charlie, didn’t get into his choice of secondary school, it was an upsetting time. Today, Kimberley shares how they moved forwards.

Ellie has faced stares and stigmatic comments due to scars caused by self-harm, but she hasn’t let this stop her from achieving great things.

Hannah experienced bullying throughout school. She wants better education around visible differences so other children don’t have to go through the same.

Emily was nervous about starting university with a visible difference. Today, she shares how her confidence started to skyrocket by the end of her first year.

Hurtful comments made Joanne struggle to accept herself, but after finding her talent and a strong support network, she’s learnt to love herself as she is.

It’s natural to want to comfort someone who is struggling with their visible difference, but sometimes a well-meaning word can be invalidating. Sophie talks about how listening can be the best way to show support.

Celine’s daughter, Vienna, was born with a rare birthmark known as a CMN. Today, Celine shares her experiences.