My Story

As a little girl, going through the puberty stage highlighted the beginning of a low point in my life. Like many people, I was teased and bullied because of my acne. As I got older and the acne did not come as severe, I was still left behind with the scars that reminded me of my low self-esteem. Humanity is a beautiful and diverse type of art, moderately appreciated for its variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. We are constantly growing to accept each other in our rare form, unbiased. Yet, we still fall short by glorifying the picture-perfect prototype. That is the flawless skin and body. In reality, those who do not have the perfect prototype spend thousands in search for the right product in order to look like a fantasy. We are constantly reminded of this fantasized beauty on the television, social media, and through advertisements. Our natural states are ignored, especially if we are blemished.

The detrimental effects of acne and negative body images have been often overlooked by the media and our peers. Teenagers and adults suffer from the baggage that comes along with blemishes including self-image, sociality, and confidence insecurities. This can affect an individual’s drive and work ethic academically and professionally. Severe phobias and disorders (i.e. dysmorphophobic acne, anorexia, etc) are the result of negative self-images. Unfortunately, there lacks a tangible source of empowerment for these individuals to turn to for uplift. Creating a source where people can refer to for validation can eliminate some feelings of incompetence and help these individuals to appreciate and see value in their blemishes. It is our goal to make Beamish an epidemic. This is the first step towards changing the mindset of our society while striving for inclusivity.

With love,

Christina Lavender