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.

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Andrew is a white male with brown hair and a beard, with an eyebrow piercing and visible difference. He is wearing a blue t-shirt with a darker blue hoodie over the top.

Andrew’s story: “It’s going to be OK”

2 February 2022

Andrew wants young people to know that life with a visible difference can turn out well.

Campaigner Chrissie who is a Black women with a visible difference wearing a white and black scarf and black top, pink glasses and her hair in two buns on top of her head.

Chrissie’s story: “Talking openly about visible difference today, is a lot easier than when I was younger”

28 January 2022

Chrissie tells us what it was like to share her story online for the first time.

Campaigner Sophie is white with long dark brown hair and a facial visible difference. In this photo she wears a red dress with white flowers on it and the photo captures her head and shoulders.

Sophie on sharing her story with us

28 January 2022

Volunteer campaigner Sophie reflects on what it felt like to share her story with us.

Chloe, a white woman in her early 20s, who has medium-length brown hair and keloid scars on her chest.

Chloe’s story: “There is much more to me than my scars”

26 January 2022

Chloe shares how she learned to accept her keloid scars and why empathy is key when it comes to conversations around visible difference.

Abigail, a 16-year-old white girl who has long light brown hair and facial scarring caused by the removal of a tumour. She's wearing a black check dress, a black cardigan and sitting at a table with her hands crossed in front of her.

Abigail’s story: “I now feel able to talk to people about my face”

12 January 2022

Abigail struggled to talk openly about her scars. Starting an Instagram account to document her journey helped her grow in confidence.

Ambassador Catrin Pugh who has a visible difference, wearing her brown hair up, with an orange sun dress

Catrin on talking to soap stars

2 December 2021

Our ambassador Catrin explains why she has been working with the team behind ITV’s soap, Emmerdale.

Peter, a white man in his 20s/30s. who has short blond hair and a port wine birthmark covering his face and body. He's wearing glasses and a blue hoodie and smiling at the camera.

Peter on dating and relationships

23 November 2021

Our campaigner Peter discusses dating as a person with a visible difference and his hopes for more open conversations on the topic.

A close up shot of Hannah, a young white woman with blonde shoulder length hair and a visible difference, wearing a grey jumper.

Hannah on TV show Malory Towers

19 November 2021

Young media champion Hannah discusses her views about representation on TV and how Malory Towers is getting it right.

A close-up shot of Graham, a white man in his late 50s who has short grey hair and some scarring on his neck. He is wearing glasses, a blue shirt and a navy tie.

Graham’s story: “Pursue your ambitions with everything you’ve got”

16 November 2021

Graham sustained burns as a child. Now he's sharing his story to encourage young people who look different to never limit themselves.

Campaigner Natalie who is mixed race and has vitiligo

Natalie on Black History Month

29 October 2021

Campaigner Natalie shares a video message with us for Black History Month 2021.

Jude on World Psoriasis Day

28 October 2021

Campaigner Jude reflects on the theme of lifestyle factors for Psoriasis Day 2021 and how this has impacted her self-confidence.

Gabby, a 17-year-old young white woman with shoulder length brown hair. She's standing outdoors in front of some trees and smiling at the camera.

Gabby’s story: “I am not defined by my skin condition”

27 October 2021

Gabby, aged 17, talks about her journey with rosacea and the importance of mental health support for young people with visible differences.