New campaign strives to raise awareness for those living with scars and disfigurements

Love Disfigure recently held a swimwear photo shoot to raise awareness

Love Disfigure urges people to love their scars (Instagram @love_disfigure)

A new campaign is urging people living with disfigurements to embrace and love their scars.

Love Disfigure was created by Sylvia Mac from Stepney, London, as a way of raising awareness and offering support for those with disfigurements who may not feel confident in their appearance.

Mac, a burn survivor who was severely burned when she fell into a pot of boiling water at age four, knows what it is like to feel self-conscious about your appearance.

But after years of struggling with anxiety, depression, and PTSD from her accident and subsequent burns, she wants to help others who may be in the same position feel comfortable in their skin.

“I campaign for those suffering with their disfigurement by raising awareness and showing support through my blogs and social media," she wrote on the Love Disfigure website. “I continue to share my photos and reach out to different industries so that people affected by their appearance can become Olympic swimmers, actors, actresses, dancers, lawyers, doctors etc. Don't allow the way you look stop you from achieving.”

A former competitive swimmer herself, Mac has set up a swimming club for people with “skin conditions, health conditions, scars, marks, burns to help them become confident again.”

She’s also campaigning for other industries such as the fashion industry and arts and film to be more accepting of people with disfigurement so that those living with scars can confidently go after their dreams.

To raise awareness for the cause and show that scars are nothing to be ashamed of, Love Disfigure recently held a swimwear photo shoot where women and children proudly showed off their scars.

On Instagram, where the pictures have already received over 100 likes, people have been expressing their support.

“This is amazing,” wrote one woman.

"Beautiful, inspirational, and brave,” wrote another.

Ultimately, Mac wants those with scars to know: “There is no need to hide your disfigurement,” and “our disfigurement is just an extra part of our uniqueness.”

“We can all be beautiful people,” she wrote on the website.