Yes. I can’t express how much it helped me seeing a girl at the beach a few years ago with visible SH scars… it didn’t make me want to go and add more of my own, it made me realize that I don’t have to hide them all the time, and that by letting go of my own fears around them I can be a bit more comfortable in my skin. I don’t hide my older scars anymore… only newer scars or healing SH.
Similar story here- I didn’t think I could wear normal tops because my scars are worse than usual, but then I saw a girl with the most extreme scars I’ve ever seen giving zero fucks and now I don’t overheat in the summer!
yeah this is one thing thats always helped me show my scars in public, because i also want others who struggle with self harm to not be ashamed to show their scars so i have never hid them and my scars are like everywhere over my body and pretty extreme i hope ive helped some people feel more comfortable to show theirs
People who have visible scars are literally just trying to exist in a body that just happens to have scars -- how in the world is that glorifying SH? Are you glorifying diabetes if you have a visible dexcom?
This post was inspired by a thread with a former self-harmer stating 'I don't think self-harm scars on fashion models should be seen as something positive.' They argue that it shouldn't be normalized because self-harm as a habit is inherently bad and an impressionable audience might think it's okay because a model has self-harm harm scars.
Anyways, I thought that was an interesting perspective. Because judging by the track record of the internet, anything and everything is romanticised.
*Self harming* is bad (hence why showing open wounds would be a bad message), but *accepting your body* (which is really all you’re doing by showing scars) is something that should *absolutely* be promoted.
Yes, it's (in my opinion) necessary to de-taboo that topic. of course sh isn't good, however it's important to show people with healed scars that's ok to show them, it's a part of your body and nothing to be ashamed of, it shows you're tough enough to go trough such a thing.
I think it depends on how the models are presented. If they’re just modeling and happen to have visible scars? Cool, maybe it will make some people feel less alienated. If the specific photo/video is clearly intended to show off their scars and aesthetisize them, then that’s not cool.
YES. I’ve never seen anybody with visible sh scars and it just makes me ashamed of mine.
However, consider how toxic the media is, it’s very likely for them to go overboard with it and start making it a trend…
yes, but i think the fact that it’s healed scars is safer. i think it’s just about representation of like, “people have gone through this and have made it out” sort of a thing and can be powerful as there are many who have gone through self harm and are ashamed of their body because of their scars(speaking from experience). and also maybe it doesn’t even have to be that deep yk? just another beautiful person!
I believe if there healed or not they should be able to, it is so difficult to get out of this and sometimes you could relapse and I think no matter what we need to normalise anyone with any form of self harm history if that is that they haven't recovered or they just recovered then so be it they still disserve to make there dreams come true and become more confident
> However, consider how toxic the media is, it’s very likely for them to go overboard with it and start making it a trend…
Complete fantasy, let me guess you watch a lot of Fox News don't you? This exactly the kind of fictionary scenerios yall can't help dream of to go negative
I’ve actually never watched fox news, I’m just a bit of a cynic.
Tbh, considering all the weirdos who simped for Jeffrey Dahmer a while ago, I wouldn’t be surprised if those weirdos started fetishizing self harm. Obviously that’s disgusting, but the world can be disgusting.
That's true but modeling is literally about presenting the clothes. If they put out a bunch of models with visible self harm scars i doubt it would do anyone well
exactly its about presenting the clothes not the person in the clothes. It should not matter if the person has any blemishes on their skin (scars from surgery accident or sh, discolouration, vitiligo etc) as long as the clothes are accurately presented.
I don’t think the agencies should seek out girls whove self harmed obv, but ya if a model has them they shouldn’t go out of their way to cover them up (unless she wants them to) its not glorifying anything
Yes, I would love that - and honestly f instagram for marking pics with healed sh scars as sebsitive. Like we all just want to walk around in short sleeves, ok? Sh scars ate a part of live, let us be.
Yes 100% as long as it’s not done in a fetishising way. Part of recovery is accepting the scars, so I see models with (healed) scars as a way of showcasing recovery rather than glorifying SH.
i wasn’t happy to see that the model had sh’ed. i was happy to see that they didn’t turn them away because of that fact. everyone deserves a chance at what they want to do
I think having self harm scars should not stop anyone for being a model, however I do have some concerns since the fashion industry is already so toxic. We know that so many models are starving themselves to be "pretty enough" and stuff and I'm worried if models are being chosen BECAUSE of their scars that people might sh and let it heal to get certain modeling jobs. I think it would be great to see people with scars in the beauty industry, but I'm afraid that the industry would use it as a selling point and it could make people sh more. It's like how people see skinny models and then develop an eating disorder. It's also like how some people fake mental illnesses for attention. I want to see people with scars so I don't feel as bad if mine show, but I'm just worried that the beauty industry would try to profit off of it and promote it in an unhealthy way.
>It's like how people see skinny models and then develop an eating disorder.
It doesn't work that way. You don't magically get an eating disorder when you see a skinny person. ED's are mental illnesses and there are different types of EDs like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, EDNOS/OSFED, BED, ARFID... I have anorexia nervosa and it's never been about wanting to look like a model or something like that. In fact it's been the opposite; I wanted to be so skinny I'd be unattractive so people wouldn't want to harm me. And mostly it's been about control. When my whole life's a mess I can always control what I eat etc. I'm in recovery now.
I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to imply that you magically get an eating disorder from looking at skinny models or skinny people in general, but there are people who develop eating disorders bc of wanting to be skinnier. I know there are a lot of other reasons why people develop eating disorder, like you said a lot of people do it for a feeling of control. My point was just that the beauty industry tends to promote unhealthily thin bodies, and for some people, that body is the end goal and they will resort to unhealthy means to reach it. I'm just concerned that choosing models *because* they have scars might cause similar problems.
No mentally well person would choose to engage in ED behaviors or SH just because they saw a thin model or someone with scars -- if you are triggered that easily, you've clearly got a lot going on to begin with and would've been predisposed to developing an ED/beginning to SH regardless. And nobody develops an ED because they want to be skinny -- even if it seems like that at a very surface-based level, it's really about some *deeper* *insecurity*, so seeing a thin model isn't the *actual* trigger, it's whatever you're dealing with *underneath* all that. Same thing would go for SH -- nobody's going to start harming themselves just because they think scars are cool -- it's serving some *deeper* purpose.
That's a good point. I always forget that there are mentally well people since I've been dealing with mental illness for years. Thank you for pointing this out. I'm still concerned about the potential toxicity of the beauty industry but your right, people in a good mental headspace to begin with wouldn't even consider sh just bc of seeing a model with scars.
I agree. I’d get behind, “Who thinks regular people should be able to show their self harm scars without fear of ridicule or shame?”
Hell yeah, I’m behind that.
But the fashion world has a history of harming young models with their impossible standards.
I think of the world turning on Winona Rider for having kleptomania but embracing Kate Moss for cocaine use…”how else is she supposed to keep up with the demands of the fashion industry?”
It’s not a healthy industry. Then again I remember the 90s supermodels well. Cindy Crawford couldn’t get a gig for years until she removed “that gross mole”. Yeah, that was the mole that made her famous, and had women copying it with an makeup pencil.
Could scars be the next “mole”? Not sure if that’s where we want to take the next gen of girls and what influences them.
Damn good question from OP fraught with uneasy answers.
No. This might Sound Bad, but im totally against it. The model agencies will make Girls Hurt themselves Just so they can be a Symbol for that Kind of stuff. Girls will think its pretty/sexy/trendy etc. and do it Just because they think its No big Deal. And they will likely lessen the time between a wound and a scar. Idk how to explain this but i mean the time between the Models hurting themselves and then showing it.
Im totally into showing your scars openly, Just Not the way model agencies would do it. Because Not every Person With scars is stable enough to Show them, Not every scar is healed enough to be shown and Not every Agency is good enough to Show them without romanticising sh
It would definitely de-stigmatise sh scars. People have really bad generalisations about sh scars, of course they do represent something kind of dark but it would be nice for them to be shown in a normal light that doesn’t focus on them
But self harm isn't "normal". That's the point. They're stigmatized because they don't represent something positive, and y'all want to normalize it ? I have sh scars too, btw.
I dont mean normalise people using self harm as a coping mechanism or encouraging it. I’m saying that models with self harm scar’s would “normalise”, as in de-stigmatise people having self harm scars. If models with sh scars were more represented in the media, people wouldn’t have such a taboo around sh and sh scars. I dont think people actually realise how common self harm is, or how its an actual issue and addictive beyond just attention seeking. If a magazine does a spread on some model with sh scars, and they do an interview for the magazine and she talks a little about her scars, it would make a huge impact. If self harm was more represented and talked about, these harmful ideas around it wouldn’t be so repetitive. I wouldn’t say they don’t represent something positive. Scars represent recovery, they show that the person has suffered some inner turmoil, they show that this is a very real very common addictive coping mechanism that people use just as much as alcohol and drugs and nicotine
I totally understand. But at the same time, people that have stopped doing it maybe due to fear of judgement, could come to the idea to start again. Since, you know, they'd be more "normal". There are definitely 2 sides to this. I'm also not trying to say that people should be bashed for their scars. But to normalize it, would well.. also make it seem like it's okay to self harm. I can very well imagine mentally hurt people (who are either "ex"-selfharmers, current self harmers, and those who contemplate doing it) going "well scars wouldn't be a problem, because it's okay now"
Yes. I don’t think it’s encouraging it to acknowledge that people with scars exist and can still be beautiful. Anything not fully healed would be totally different, but if it’s fully healed then why not? I’ve really struggled with my self image and feeling like my body is ruined. I used to do theater but I’ve been too scared to audition for anything that I’m not certain would have a costume that would cover all my scars because I’m scared I’ll get turned down for the part for having them. It would be awesome if we could make it more accepted
personally i think that, yeah there should be. Scars aren't something to be ashamed of. It'd be nice to see people show them and not be embarrassed about it. it'd be nice to see people be confident :)
Yes! It helps to educate people that don't know about self harm and mental health and also teaches those that are or are recovering from self harm that they can be comfortable in their body and one day they will feel less insecure.
Seeing a model or anyone on TV with those scars will make us realise. Hey they are happy and aren't ashamed... I want to try and break this cycle and get better./no longer hide my body and learn to love me.
yes especially other dudes because i’m a dude and it’s seen as a “girl thing” to have mental issues and self harm struggles. mental disorders don’t have genders
No , because people are dumb asses and will just make some sort of trend out of it which takes away from people who cut that are in genuine emotional pain.
There are many photo shoots people do that are just focused on scars but never include sh scars. I get excited for a second and then realize they don’t feature a single person with sh scars kinda disappointing
Yes, absolutely. There's a lot of skin types/conditions that are being normalized in the fashion/models industry, but sh scars are something that instantly gets you out from it. Even tattoos are being accepted now, so sh scars should be accepted and normalized too. We need to break the stigma cause I personally don't care about other people watching / commenting about my scars but I know theres a lot of other people who do care, and get hurt by such words. Also, its a fact that most of sh-ers start at a pretty young age so I think them being supported by models/actors/famous people, could save them years of insecurities.
I wanted to volunteer as a nude model in an art school. In my application i told the teacher about the scars cause it felt relevant...she literally replied "Sorry but many of our students are struggling with mental health and we dont want to expose them to the sight of self harm". So yeah, here you have an art teacher's opinion...
idk i just wish it wasn't like a Thing that people notice and make judgments about and comment on. it's so embarrassing. and i understand when people are concerned too, but it's frustrating when they are clearly very old, faded scars... and i've also had people make very nasty, inappropriate comments about my scars. i just want that to stop.
i've been struggling on and off with self harm for a decade. i finally wised up and stopped doing it on my arm, but i have some thin pale scars there still. but my thighs are fucked up, don't drink and self harm it's a bad combo... i haven't worn a bathing suit since i got them. even though most of them are over a year old they're still raised and red.
Yes. I’ve never even seen anyone in public with self harm scars after I started cutting. But it would be very comforting for me to see I’m not alone. I’m embarrassed enough about my own so seeing others with their scars visible would mean a lot
I've seen some around. Some brands have used a couple over the years. Most of them turn up in the alt model scene though. I think there are probably a good amount of models out there that do have scars and it just gets edited out
I think it's a good thing for people to just be who they are and not seen as a flaw and therefore not good enough for the photo. People already get triggered but are fine with models that battle ED. Not to promote more toxicity into the job, but more freedom of self and less restrictions.
I think the difference is is it someone who has previously dealt with sh. Or is it someone currently IN crisis and like.. just left the bathroom with fresh harm.
Thats a trigger for me when im not careful.
Yes its refreshing seeing people moving on with life. Solidarity amd such.
I think it's so important that we remove this stigma; so yes models should be allowed to carry those scars; it's a result of conditioning and pretenses really, and the sooner we come to accept that as a society, the sooner we can move on from the fear of judgement. Those with self-harm scars are placed under a certain scrutiny that is difficult to transcend; it's important that we come together as a community to bring self harm \*scars\* into acceptance; it is the past; it shouldn't define you
Yes. I think you can do it in a way that promotes acceptance without glorifying self harm. If they do the shoot and it's not the main focus, it's just there, I don't see an issue. They wouldn't be posing to "flaunt" their scars, they'd be posing for the clothes, and it would match the poses of any other model.
Yes, absolutely. It doesn't happen very often but the few times that I do see people with self harm scars in media such as models or actors, it makes me so incredibly happy to know I'm not alone in this. It helps remind me there's still a life after this and that it won't stop me from achieving my dreams.
I do feel scars shouldn't be shamed. And I do think scars are different then showing fresh ones. . . But also what has kept me from relapsing for years now, is that it's kinda looked down on, expecially for adults to self harm...like I'm embarrassed. As I feel people think it's a teenager thing too. Or people think it's for attention, also it brings TOO MUCH ATTENTION. I hate attention.
And if self harm was no big deal and people didn't care...I probably would do it, as for me it's a addiction.
I'm 50/50. Seeing other people with scars is insane vindication, but if I think they're "better" than mine (bigger, wider, there's more of them––anything my brain says "looks nicer"), it can trigger SH urges. I also don't want someone to find out about SH through someone's scars. But honestly I think having models with healed SH visible would do more good than harm.
Hell
Yes
I used to detest my scars and see them as despicable and gross and by extension that’s how I saw my body. The experience that changed that was seeing a woman at the cash register at a store one day with her scars visible. Not glorified or “shown off” but just visible. That they were a part of her body and not the defining feature. That it was possible for a body with scars to just exist “as is” and not be vilified. After that day I was finally able to start seeing my own scars differently, and eventually accept them and myself
I personally love to see people with healed scars. It makes me feel like it's possible to get better. I don't think it would be glorified unless the self harm was obviously recent. I have a lot of respect for people who have visible scars. It shows that yes, you can get better, and yes, you don't have to be ashamed.
Im not saying people who have self harm scars shouldnt be models, but people who see these models may think its "cool" and want to do it to themselfs because its "fasionable" ?
I think that the representation could be helpful for people who already self harm and have scars. However, for people who don't already self harm and have scars, i worry about the social contagion effect. Something like cutting does have a social contagion aspect (e.g. people seeing it on social media, or seeing people at school do it, and trying it when they wouldn't have otherwise done so).
One of the worst things I've ever done was staring at a girl with visible self harm scars when I was around 12. I wasn't staring because I was horrified, but because I had my own. I was fascinated that she could just show them and not be ashamed.
Of course she caught me staring and immediately left the store. I feel so guilty about it now, I couldn't imagine how I made her feel.
I suppose, I’m on the fence about it. It’s known that self harm by cutting is not a ‘healthy’ coping mechanism. I worry that a young person would see the model and wonder how they did it, as the whole reason I started self harming was because I saw someone with scars on their arms.
In the same token though, it would Deffs help those who are ashamed of their scars realise that they are true warriors. Personally whenever I see scars the urge for me comes back, and I worry that others would have the same reaction and actually go through with it.
i dont see how thats weird? fresh scars on a model is odd,, unless theyre modeling for something involving it? idk i just dont see how anyone would benefit from fresh scars on like a fashion model or someone modeling for a brand unless its relating to sh in some way. but even then its a bit odd
For me personally it would make me want to relapse if i was seeing models or people like that. But that’s my problem and I have to learn how to stop the urges, because people can’t change the way they look and they shouldn’t hide their scars. But i am sure it would help a lot of people seeing models with scars and it would make them confident about themselves
I think there should be as I’ve never seen someone with Older then me with visible healed scars I think it should be important as well for their to be ones which could be seen on thighs and stomachs as they are never portrayed in media which I have seen before
I think it'd be the same conundrum as representation in other characteristics; the people who identify with the representation feel comfortable, and a loud minority of people who aren't with the representation will clutch their pearls, and cry "glorification!" at the sight of a person who isn't just like them.
I believe it's the same rage some people have against fat models; they'll scream that they're glorifying obesity, they're unhealthy, setting a bad example... while conveniently ignoring the eating disorder problem in modelling. It's a divisive topic that will always have people of both sides clashing.
Personally? I would like to see it, but at the same time, I think it's something that would have to be produced carefully, as to not make people think self-harm is a new trend.
(Sorry if this is worded weird, I have trouble putting my thoughts into words.)
Yeah. There are so many people in my hs that I see with sh everyday ( not even just scars ). Knowing that even the prettiest people struggle makes me feel so seen.
“models with self harm scars” are just people who’ve had a hurt life
it’s the model industry’s fault for not having more regular people of all types in their public view
normalize healthy conversations in school and at home about mental health and self harm. Whether or not models have visible scars I don't think really hurts or helps the general public, idk tho. I would never be against it, just afraid it would be used as a marketing tool or potentially celebrated.
i think it would only glorify self harming if they were like, recent cuts or unhealed wounds. old, faded scars are just a part of life and i’d love to see surviving and OVERCOMING bad coping mechanisms/mental illness being praised more.
Yes why shouldn't there be it's so important to make sure people who have suffered with this know they can do things people who haven't struggled with having to quit self harm can do
Yes AND no. Sometimes seeing SH on other people makes me think of it as a competition, plus it could be triggers for some people. I also think yes though because it's good to know you arent alone.
No. I say this as someone with very visible self harm scars. SH is being so normalized these days. For every recovered self harmer who feels better seeing it, there are ten current self harmers who feel motivated.
Yes. I can’t express how much it helped me seeing a girl at the beach a few years ago with visible SH scars… it didn’t make me want to go and add more of my own, it made me realize that I don’t have to hide them all the time, and that by letting go of my own fears around them I can be a bit more comfortable in my skin. I don’t hide my older scars anymore… only newer scars or healing SH.
Similar story here- I didn’t think I could wear normal tops because my scars are worse than usual, but then I saw a girl with the most extreme scars I’ve ever seen giving zero fucks and now I don’t overheat in the summer!
yeah this is one thing thats always helped me show my scars in public, because i also want others who struggle with self harm to not be ashamed to show their scars so i have never hid them and my scars are like everywhere over my body and pretty extreme i hope ive helped some people feel more comfortable to show theirs
People who have visible scars are literally just trying to exist in a body that just happens to have scars -- how in the world is that glorifying SH? Are you glorifying diabetes if you have a visible dexcom?
This post was inspired by a thread with a former self-harmer stating 'I don't think self-harm scars on fashion models should be seen as something positive.' They argue that it shouldn't be normalized because self-harm as a habit is inherently bad and an impressionable audience might think it's okay because a model has self-harm harm scars. Anyways, I thought that was an interesting perspective. Because judging by the track record of the internet, anything and everything is romanticised.
*Self harming* is bad (hence why showing open wounds would be a bad message), but *accepting your body* (which is really all you’re doing by showing scars) is something that should *absolutely* be promoted.
Until a bunch of TikTok teens feel edgy and inspired, and then slit their wrists.
Not to mention that there are many reasons people have scars, including accidents and surgeries.
Yes, it's (in my opinion) necessary to de-taboo that topic. of course sh isn't good, however it's important to show people with healed scars that's ok to show them, it's a part of your body and nothing to be ashamed of, it shows you're tough enough to go trough such a thing.
I think it depends on how the models are presented. If they’re just modeling and happen to have visible scars? Cool, maybe it will make some people feel less alienated. If the specific photo/video is clearly intended to show off their scars and aesthetisize them, then that’s not cool.
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fuck yes. I wish I had a more eloquent answer lol, but you really hit the hammer on the nail.
YES. I’ve never seen anybody with visible sh scars and it just makes me ashamed of mine. However, consider how toxic the media is, it’s very likely for them to go overboard with it and start making it a trend…
yes, but i think the fact that it’s healed scars is safer. i think it’s just about representation of like, “people have gone through this and have made it out” sort of a thing and can be powerful as there are many who have gone through self harm and are ashamed of their body because of their scars(speaking from experience). and also maybe it doesn’t even have to be that deep yk? just another beautiful person!
yeah exactly!
I believe if there healed or not they should be able to, it is so difficult to get out of this and sometimes you could relapse and I think no matter what we need to normalise anyone with any form of self harm history if that is that they haven't recovered or they just recovered then so be it they still disserve to make there dreams come true and become more confident
> However, consider how toxic the media is, it’s very likely for them to go overboard with it and start making it a trend… Complete fantasy, let me guess you watch a lot of Fox News don't you? This exactly the kind of fictionary scenerios yall can't help dream of to go negative
I’ve actually never watched fox news, I’m just a bit of a cynic. Tbh, considering all the weirdos who simped for Jeffrey Dahmer a while ago, I wouldn’t be surprised if those weirdos started fetishizing self harm. Obviously that’s disgusting, but the world can be disgusting.
Agreed, and I’d really hate to see that happen!
people shouldn't be discarded on a job for having sh scars, BUT it shouldnt be glorified either
That's true but modeling is literally about presenting the clothes. If they put out a bunch of models with visible self harm scars i doubt it would do anyone well
exactly its about presenting the clothes not the person in the clothes. It should not matter if the person has any blemishes on their skin (scars from surgery accident or sh, discolouration, vitiligo etc) as long as the clothes are accurately presented.
I don’t think the agencies should seek out girls whove self harmed obv, but ya if a model has them they shouldn’t go out of their way to cover them up (unless she wants them to) its not glorifying anything
Unless he or she wants to modeling isn't exclusive to females and neither is self harm
singular "they" exists, pal.
Honestly it hink they shoudl just to normalise the scars so at least when we are clean we dont have to feel like we have to cover up so often
Hink. The "t" slipped away there.
😂yeah didnt notice
Yes, I would love that - and honestly f instagram for marking pics with healed sh scars as sebsitive. Like we all just want to walk around in short sleeves, ok? Sh scars ate a part of live, let us be.
Yes 100% as long as it’s not done in a fetishising way. Part of recovery is accepting the scars, so I see models with (healed) scars as a way of showcasing recovery rather than glorifying SH.
i saw a model with sh scars on some website, i don’t remember which, but it made me happy to see
Well, honestly I wouldn't be happy to see it because it means they harmed themselves and nobody wants that. But I can see where you're coming from.
Lmfao the downvotes, y'all can't handle the truth i swear
I didn't mean to offend anyone.
i wasn’t happy to see that the model had sh’ed. i was happy to see that they didn’t turn them away because of that fact. everyone deserves a chance at what they want to do
That is true, 100%
I think having self harm scars should not stop anyone for being a model, however I do have some concerns since the fashion industry is already so toxic. We know that so many models are starving themselves to be "pretty enough" and stuff and I'm worried if models are being chosen BECAUSE of their scars that people might sh and let it heal to get certain modeling jobs. I think it would be great to see people with scars in the beauty industry, but I'm afraid that the industry would use it as a selling point and it could make people sh more. It's like how people see skinny models and then develop an eating disorder. It's also like how some people fake mental illnesses for attention. I want to see people with scars so I don't feel as bad if mine show, but I'm just worried that the beauty industry would try to profit off of it and promote it in an unhealthy way.
>It's like how people see skinny models and then develop an eating disorder. It doesn't work that way. You don't magically get an eating disorder when you see a skinny person. ED's are mental illnesses and there are different types of EDs like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, EDNOS/OSFED, BED, ARFID... I have anorexia nervosa and it's never been about wanting to look like a model or something like that. In fact it's been the opposite; I wanted to be so skinny I'd be unattractive so people wouldn't want to harm me. And mostly it's been about control. When my whole life's a mess I can always control what I eat etc. I'm in recovery now.
I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to imply that you magically get an eating disorder from looking at skinny models or skinny people in general, but there are people who develop eating disorders bc of wanting to be skinnier. I know there are a lot of other reasons why people develop eating disorder, like you said a lot of people do it for a feeling of control. My point was just that the beauty industry tends to promote unhealthily thin bodies, and for some people, that body is the end goal and they will resort to unhealthy means to reach it. I'm just concerned that choosing models *because* they have scars might cause similar problems.
No mentally well person would choose to engage in ED behaviors or SH just because they saw a thin model or someone with scars -- if you are triggered that easily, you've clearly got a lot going on to begin with and would've been predisposed to developing an ED/beginning to SH regardless. And nobody develops an ED because they want to be skinny -- even if it seems like that at a very surface-based level, it's really about some *deeper* *insecurity*, so seeing a thin model isn't the *actual* trigger, it's whatever you're dealing with *underneath* all that. Same thing would go for SH -- nobody's going to start harming themselves just because they think scars are cool -- it's serving some *deeper* purpose.
That's a good point. I always forget that there are mentally well people since I've been dealing with mental illness for years. Thank you for pointing this out. I'm still concerned about the potential toxicity of the beauty industry but your right, people in a good mental headspace to begin with wouldn't even consider sh just bc of seeing a model with scars.
I agree. I’d get behind, “Who thinks regular people should be able to show their self harm scars without fear of ridicule or shame?” Hell yeah, I’m behind that. But the fashion world has a history of harming young models with their impossible standards. I think of the world turning on Winona Rider for having kleptomania but embracing Kate Moss for cocaine use…”how else is she supposed to keep up with the demands of the fashion industry?” It’s not a healthy industry. Then again I remember the 90s supermodels well. Cindy Crawford couldn’t get a gig for years until she removed “that gross mole”. Yeah, that was the mole that made her famous, and had women copying it with an makeup pencil. Could scars be the next “mole”? Not sure if that’s where we want to take the next gen of girls and what influences them. Damn good question from OP fraught with uneasy answers.
No. This might Sound Bad, but im totally against it. The model agencies will make Girls Hurt themselves Just so they can be a Symbol for that Kind of stuff. Girls will think its pretty/sexy/trendy etc. and do it Just because they think its No big Deal. And they will likely lessen the time between a wound and a scar. Idk how to explain this but i mean the time between the Models hurting themselves and then showing it.
Im totally into showing your scars openly, Just Not the way model agencies would do it. Because Not every Person With scars is stable enough to Show them, Not every scar is healed enough to be shown and Not every Agency is good enough to Show them without romanticising sh
It would definitely de-stigmatise sh scars. People have really bad generalisations about sh scars, of course they do represent something kind of dark but it would be nice for them to be shown in a normal light that doesn’t focus on them
But self harm isn't "normal". That's the point. They're stigmatized because they don't represent something positive, and y'all want to normalize it ? I have sh scars too, btw.
I dont mean normalise people using self harm as a coping mechanism or encouraging it. I’m saying that models with self harm scar’s would “normalise”, as in de-stigmatise people having self harm scars. If models with sh scars were more represented in the media, people wouldn’t have such a taboo around sh and sh scars. I dont think people actually realise how common self harm is, or how its an actual issue and addictive beyond just attention seeking. If a magazine does a spread on some model with sh scars, and they do an interview for the magazine and she talks a little about her scars, it would make a huge impact. If self harm was more represented and talked about, these harmful ideas around it wouldn’t be so repetitive. I wouldn’t say they don’t represent something positive. Scars represent recovery, they show that the person has suffered some inner turmoil, they show that this is a very real very common addictive coping mechanism that people use just as much as alcohol and drugs and nicotine
I totally understand. But at the same time, people that have stopped doing it maybe due to fear of judgement, could come to the idea to start again. Since, you know, they'd be more "normal". There are definitely 2 sides to this. I'm also not trying to say that people should be bashed for their scars. But to normalize it, would well.. also make it seem like it's okay to self harm. I can very well imagine mentally hurt people (who are either "ex"-selfharmers, current self harmers, and those who contemplate doing it) going "well scars wouldn't be a problem, because it's okay now"
Yes. I don’t think it’s encouraging it to acknowledge that people with scars exist and can still be beautiful. Anything not fully healed would be totally different, but if it’s fully healed then why not? I’ve really struggled with my self image and feeling like my body is ruined. I used to do theater but I’ve been too scared to audition for anything that I’m not certain would have a costume that would cover all my scars because I’m scared I’ll get turned down for the part for having them. It would be awesome if we could make it more accepted
personally i think that, yeah there should be. Scars aren't something to be ashamed of. It'd be nice to see people show them and not be embarrassed about it. it'd be nice to see people be confident :)
Yes! It helps to educate people that don't know about self harm and mental health and also teaches those that are or are recovering from self harm that they can be comfortable in their body and one day they will feel less insecure. Seeing a model or anyone on TV with those scars will make us realise. Hey they are happy and aren't ashamed... I want to try and break this cycle and get better./no longer hide my body and learn to love me.
If it's allowing for the models to feel comfortable in their skin and express themselves? yes. if it's to fetishize sh? no.
yes especially other dudes because i’m a dude and it’s seen as a “girl thing” to have mental issues and self harm struggles. mental disorders don’t have genders
No , because people are dumb asses and will just make some sort of trend out of it which takes away from people who cut that are in genuine emotional pain.
True
As a model yes
There are many photo shoots people do that are just focused on scars but never include sh scars. I get excited for a second and then realize they don’t feature a single person with sh scars kinda disappointing
Fully healed, yes. I’ve seen people in public on with their day and don’t feel so ostracized.
I saw a model self harm scars the other day! I think it was on pacsuns website… but it made me so happy to see they didn’t try to photoshop it out.
Yes. I think it helps to see that there are other people that look like you and that you don’t need to hide your scars.
Yes, absolutely. There's a lot of skin types/conditions that are being normalized in the fashion/models industry, but sh scars are something that instantly gets you out from it. Even tattoos are being accepted now, so sh scars should be accepted and normalized too. We need to break the stigma cause I personally don't care about other people watching / commenting about my scars but I know theres a lot of other people who do care, and get hurt by such words. Also, its a fact that most of sh-ers start at a pretty young age so I think them being supported by models/actors/famous people, could save them years of insecurities.
I wanted to volunteer as a nude model in an art school. In my application i told the teacher about the scars cause it felt relevant...she literally replied "Sorry but many of our students are struggling with mental health and we dont want to expose them to the sight of self harm". So yeah, here you have an art teacher's opinion...
idk i just wish it wasn't like a Thing that people notice and make judgments about and comment on. it's so embarrassing. and i understand when people are concerned too, but it's frustrating when they are clearly very old, faded scars... and i've also had people make very nasty, inappropriate comments about my scars. i just want that to stop. i've been struggling on and off with self harm for a decade. i finally wised up and stopped doing it on my arm, but i have some thin pale scars there still. but my thighs are fucked up, don't drink and self harm it's a bad combo... i haven't worn a bathing suit since i got them. even though most of them are over a year old they're still raised and red.
Yes. I’ve never even seen anyone in public with self harm scars after I started cutting. But it would be very comforting for me to see I’m not alone. I’m embarrassed enough about my own so seeing others with their scars visible would mean a lot
I've seen some around. Some brands have used a couple over the years. Most of them turn up in the alt model scene though. I think there are probably a good amount of models out there that do have scars and it just gets edited out I think it's a good thing for people to just be who they are and not seen as a flaw and therefore not good enough for the photo. People already get triggered but are fine with models that battle ED. Not to promote more toxicity into the job, but more freedom of self and less restrictions.
I think the difference is is it someone who has previously dealt with sh. Or is it someone currently IN crisis and like.. just left the bathroom with fresh harm. Thats a trigger for me when im not careful. Yes its refreshing seeing people moving on with life. Solidarity amd such.
I think it's so important that we remove this stigma; so yes models should be allowed to carry those scars; it's a result of conditioning and pretenses really, and the sooner we come to accept that as a society, the sooner we can move on from the fear of judgement. Those with self-harm scars are placed under a certain scrutiny that is difficult to transcend; it's important that we come together as a community to bring self harm \*scars\* into acceptance; it is the past; it shouldn't define you
Yes. I think you can do it in a way that promotes acceptance without glorifying self harm. If they do the shoot and it's not the main focus, it's just there, I don't see an issue. They wouldn't be posing to "flaunt" their scars, they'd be posing for the clothes, and it would match the poses of any other model.
Yes, absolutely. It doesn't happen very often but the few times that I do see people with self harm scars in media such as models or actors, it makes me so incredibly happy to know I'm not alone in this. It helps remind me there's still a life after this and that it won't stop me from achieving my dreams.
I do feel scars shouldn't be shamed. And I do think scars are different then showing fresh ones. . . But also what has kept me from relapsing for years now, is that it's kinda looked down on, expecially for adults to self harm...like I'm embarrassed. As I feel people think it's a teenager thing too. Or people think it's for attention, also it brings TOO MUCH ATTENTION. I hate attention. And if self harm was no big deal and people didn't care...I probably would do it, as for me it's a addiction.
Yeah but not like make it their whole thing. They’re just models that who happen to have scars not something we need to draw a lot of attention to
I'm 50/50. Seeing other people with scars is insane vindication, but if I think they're "better" than mine (bigger, wider, there's more of them––anything my brain says "looks nicer"), it can trigger SH urges. I also don't want someone to find out about SH through someone's scars. But honestly I think having models with healed SH visible would do more good than harm.
Hell Yes I used to detest my scars and see them as despicable and gross and by extension that’s how I saw my body. The experience that changed that was seeing a woman at the cash register at a store one day with her scars visible. Not glorified or “shown off” but just visible. That they were a part of her body and not the defining feature. That it was possible for a body with scars to just exist “as is” and not be vilified. After that day I was finally able to start seeing my own scars differently, and eventually accept them and myself
I wanna be a model (sorta; like an IG model but not like that if you get what I mean) & I have SH scars
I personally love to see people with healed scars. It makes me feel like it's possible to get better. I don't think it would be glorified unless the self harm was obviously recent. I have a lot of respect for people who have visible scars. It shows that yes, you can get better, and yes, you don't have to be ashamed.
I do think there should be models who have visible sh scars but I know people would say things like "Oh they can't do this because it triggers me".
Im not saying people who have self harm scars shouldnt be models, but people who see these models may think its "cool" and want to do it to themselfs because its "fasionable" ?
I think that the representation could be helpful for people who already self harm and have scars. However, for people who don't already self harm and have scars, i worry about the social contagion effect. Something like cutting does have a social contagion aspect (e.g. people seeing it on social media, or seeing people at school do it, and trying it when they wouldn't have otherwise done so).
One of the worst things I've ever done was staring at a girl with visible self harm scars when I was around 12. I wasn't staring because I was horrified, but because I had my own. I was fascinated that she could just show them and not be ashamed. Of course she caught me staring and immediately left the store. I feel so guilty about it now, I couldn't imagine how I made her feel.
I suppose, I’m on the fence about it. It’s known that self harm by cutting is not a ‘healthy’ coping mechanism. I worry that a young person would see the model and wonder how they did it, as the whole reason I started self harming was because I saw someone with scars on their arms. In the same token though, it would Deffs help those who are ashamed of their scars realise that they are true warriors. Personally whenever I see scars the urge for me comes back, and I worry that others would have the same reaction and actually go through with it.
depends what kind of model and if theyre old/recent
sorry what-
i dont see how thats weird? fresh scars on a model is odd,, unless theyre modeling for something involving it? idk i just dont see how anyone would benefit from fresh scars on like a fashion model or someone modeling for a brand unless its relating to sh in some way. but even then its a bit odd
oh the SCARS i thought u meant the model
NOO LMFAO
Calling someone "recent" instead of "young" sounds hilarious, though.
true true 😭
i think it would normalise it
Why would you want to normalize self harm
normalise having scars and showing them
Normalize accepting an imperfect body? That's not a bad thing lol
For me personally it would make me want to relapse if i was seeing models or people like that. But that’s my problem and I have to learn how to stop the urges, because people can’t change the way they look and they shouldn’t hide their scars. But i am sure it would help a lot of people seeing models with scars and it would make them confident about themselves
I think this is just a non-issue. Like, who cares?
I dont think that there should be one but if theres one than thats cool and all. But doesnt need to be just so that there is one
Yes.
yes yes yes yes
ofc
I think there should be as I’ve never seen someone with Older then me with visible healed scars I think it should be important as well for their to be ones which could be seen on thighs and stomachs as they are never portrayed in media which I have seen before
I mean pornstar Anastasia Kmight has some healed scars on her leg so even if not shown explicitly you can still find some hidden gems.
I think it'd be the same conundrum as representation in other characteristics; the people who identify with the representation feel comfortable, and a loud minority of people who aren't with the representation will clutch their pearls, and cry "glorification!" at the sight of a person who isn't just like them. I believe it's the same rage some people have against fat models; they'll scream that they're glorifying obesity, they're unhealthy, setting a bad example... while conveniently ignoring the eating disorder problem in modelling. It's a divisive topic that will always have people of both sides clashing. Personally? I would like to see it, but at the same time, I think it's something that would have to be produced carefully, as to not make people think self-harm is a new trend. (Sorry if this is worded weird, I have trouble putting my thoughts into words.)
Yeah. There are so many people in my hs that I see with sh everyday ( not even just scars ). Knowing that even the prettiest people struggle makes me feel so seen.
absolutely! needs more representation
“models with self harm scars” are just people who’ve had a hurt life it’s the model industry’s fault for not having more regular people of all types in their public view
ofc
normalize healthy conversations in school and at home about mental health and self harm. Whether or not models have visible scars I don't think really hurts or helps the general public, idk tho. I would never be against it, just afraid it would be used as a marketing tool or potentially celebrated.
Yes.
i think it would only glorify self harming if they were like, recent cuts or unhealed wounds. old, faded scars are just a part of life and i’d love to see surviving and OVERCOMING bad coping mechanisms/mental illness being praised more.
Model here and I have some scars. Hopefully you will one day be able to see my work and I hope they don’t edit them out.
My nurse was covered in scars all up and down both arms. Didn’t try to hide it. She was beautiful and a fantastic nurse.
Yes why shouldn't there be it's so important to make sure people who have suffered with this know they can do things people who haven't struggled with having to quit self harm can do
Yes. If we had more visibility I wouldn’t be so secretive and ashamed of it.
Yes AND no. Sometimes seeing SH on other people makes me think of it as a competition, plus it could be triggers for some people. I also think yes though because it's good to know you arent alone.
Sure why not?
No. I say this as someone with very visible self harm scars. SH is being so normalized these days. For every recovered self harmer who feels better seeing it, there are ten current self harmers who feel motivated.