Little Mix member Perrie Edwards recently used Instagram to send a body-positive message to her followers. Posing with a smoldering smokey eye, beachy, braided hair and a low-cut top, Edwards exposed what she has called her “biggest body hang-up” in the past: her surgery scar.
After undergoing numerous surgeries as a child to correct an esophagus issue that was preventing her from eating properly, Edwards ended up with a vertical scar that stretches from her chest down to her stomach. Edwards left the impactful Instagram photo caption-less, letting it, and her bravery, speak for itself.
Fans loved Edward’s self-love message, and were even inspired by her to embrace their own insecurities and scars. One Instagram user commented, “Thank you Perrie for helping me and many other people feel more comfortable and confident about showing our scars,” while another wrote, “You have helped me to realise that showing my scar is important. It saved my life and I should be proud of it. Thank you.”
People on Twitter were no less thankful for, and encouraged by, Perrie’s courage:
Thanks to perrie my 8year old goddaughter wanted to show of her life saving scars like her idol #bodypositive pic.twitter.com/HBxdk3N2q2
— L2Mae (@L2Mae) June 3, 2017
Edwards isn’t the first celebrity to remind fans that every body, scars and all, is beautiful. After being open with her body struggles, insecurities and decision to get a breast reduction, Modern Family star Ariel Winter has publicly shown off her surgery scars, and is quick to shut down any body-shamers who try to encourage her to do any differently.
Guys there is a reason I didn’t make an effort to cover up my scars! They are part of me and I’m not ashamed of them at all. :)
— Ariel Winter (@arielwinter1) January 31, 2016
Some of our very own Her Campus writers have opened up about their journeys with scars and learning to love their bodies. Read:
- Justyn Jacobs, from Oregon State University: “#ScarrednotScared: My Journey With My Scar”
- Katie Murray, from Towson: “The Body Positivity Series: Love Your Scars”
- 30 women from Cásper Líbero: “Girls With Marks: Casperians Comment On Their Scars and How They Perceive Them”
- Jesse Lesniowski, from U Ottawa: “How to Love your Scars”
This is a shoutout to Perrie… for showing us that every body is beautiful!