1 in 5 people have a visible difference. ‘A scar, mark or condition on your face or body that makes you look different.’ (Changing Faces) Yet, in 2023, 49% of people with a visible difference have experienced hostile behaviour - an increase of 15% since 2019. I’m determined to change that.
I’ve been a campaigner for the charity Changing Faces since 2022 supporting those with visible differences. Through this, I’ve become aware of the scope of visible differences and difficulties people like myself have faced. I'm inspired by the stories I hear of people navigating hate and often pain just to live a normal life.
Recently, I’ve been awarded a Churchill Fellowship…
This grant funds my travel to the US and Prague to create the documentary and podcast. The documentary and podcast will share the stories and lives of change makers with a visible difference to show that a visible difference doesn't make someone strange or abnormal and actually it can be your super power.
In 2025, I’ll be travelling to the US to learn from the change makers based there and continue my work in the UK after my fellowship.
Many of the stories of hostility begin at school with bullying. Therefore, I’ll be sharing the podcast and documentary I’ve created with schools across the UK and eventually hope to enact social and policy reform.
If you’d like to share your story with the 1 in 5 project or share your support, please via @spottylittlething across social media.
I need your help getting this project off the ground. Your money will allow me to:
- Invest in equipment
- Hire a producer
- Distribution
- Fund travel to schools across the UK
- Support the expansion of this project
Who Am I?
I'm Isabella, I first developmed a severe form of cystic acne aged 9. Acne is a normal condition, affecting roughly 80% of the female population of the world. However, mine has existed for as long as I can remember.
Whilst I’m confident in myself now it hasn’t always been this way. First thing in the morning, I’d check my skin in the mirror and do my skincare, feeling every bump and lump on my face. I’d pluck up the courage to go out, walking down the street I’d see people glancing and scanning my face.
Perhaps I’ve run out of my favourite lipstick, so I’ll go to Boots. The beautician shows me the different colours. Then suddenly they’ll start talking about skincare and ask if I’ve ever tried niacinamide. When I say yes, I know a lot about skincare they’re surprised and eventually start talking about my skin.
Completely irrelevant of the fact that I’d gone in for lipstick. Even now this is common part of my life. My skin becomes 'a thing' completing menial tasks let alone trying to accomplish something like being taken seriously in a job interview.
I grew up with stares, comments and insults from strangers and people I knew. I know first-hand the impact this has on self-esteem and mental wellbeing. During the pandemic, I created an Instagram page documenting my acne and it grew to become an online community where I’m privileged to empower people daily. I experience a lot of online trolling and I am passionate about preventing this from happening to the next generation. I regularly make videos online, feature on podcasts and have experience creating radio shows.
Acne is also a common skin condition that at times, I can hide from the outside world. Yet there are many visible differences, like port wine stains, alopecia and burns scars that you can’t always hide. And nor should you have to.
Thank you!