Burn Survivor Sylvia Mac is Inspiring People to Embrace Their Scars

After decades of shame, this brave woman decided to stop hiding her body. Sylvia Mac is a burn survivor who doesn’t let the scars of the past hold her back anymore. 

The actual scars on her body are the legacy of a childhood accident. When she was only 3 years old, she suffered third-degree and fourth-degree burns all over her body and spent much more time in the hospital than any child ever should. As a result, she developed self-image issues and tried to hide herself as much as possible. 

It took time for her to let her guard down, but with the help of her family, she has now fought and won her battles and is focused on helping the next burn survivor in need of support. She especially recommends swimming to those living with a disfigurement, saying that it’s an activity which brings immense peace. 

“Don’t paste over the cracks in your life as I did, deal with them head on and begin to embrace you and your body,” she says. To spread this message, in 2018 she created the support group, Love Disfigure, which invites people to accept themselves with all the imperfections caused by accidents.  

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Check out this absolute Beauty of a woman who is a child Burn Survivor and Miss Unique Beauty UK Pageant sweetheart. Hear her take on life and what an inspirational Person she is. @28laura1992 (Laura Masters) 27 years old from Caerphilly. I am also a support work for adults and helping them everyday. I live with my long term boyfriends and our two wonderful dogs. Two years ago I decied to take the chance and learn how to surf. I was always afraid I would hurt my legs and that they never heeled but taken a little risk and living life and your dreams are with it. my burns happen at the age of 1 I was put into a bath of scolding water by my birth mams boyfriend 50% of my body. Growing up has a child I was never afraid of my scars but when your get to the teens that fear kicks in. your confidence is so low your afraid to speak to other people. When I was 21 i decied it was time to change and speak up about body confidence and the way we look at people in every day life. this year I enter miss unique beauty uk aka MUB. it is the first every beauty pageant in the uk for people who have got disfigurement, scars and differences to their body. Taking part in the pageant you get to brings your confidence more. It also bring out who you are. I have meet amazing woman from the . the bound we all have is strong and the friendships we have made is for life. the winner of miss unique beauty uk is Lauren cross and she is on instagram. Rochelle is the founder of miss unique beauty uk and she turned her dreams into reality. Believe give up and say I can’t do it. Wake up in the morning and look in that mirror and say I can do it and I will. I am beautiful, smart and brave and I can do it. just remember your. Happiness comes first 😁 @28laura1992 If you would like to apply for MUB UK pageant please apply to @rochellejulianne26 Anyone with Visible or Hidden Differences can apply regardless of age, size, ethnicity or disability ❤️🥰🌟☝🏻🌟 #uniqueandproud #bodypositive #beautyqueens #pageant #burnsurvivor #sweetheart #strongwomen ❤️🥰

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My name is Tessa Schiethart, I am 26 years old and I am born with the Sturge Weber Syndrome which results in me having a large port wine stain covering my face and in the eye disease glaucoma that I have which has made my right eye blind. I was born with this condition, and have always looked differently, but was raised by my parents very openly and acceptingly that it didn’t matter and that it was just part of who I was. I am never bullied for it, but did always feel a little different. My birthmark and my different look has never stopped me from pursuing my dreams. I have studied the studies I wanted to, I work, have many friends and have travelled the world extensively all by myself. I love the little things in life, and practice yoga every morning to set my intention for the day. I started my Masters at the university here in Amsterdam and am writing my final thesis on the experience of people with visible differences in the face on the job markets and at work. This is a topic very close to my heart, as I strive for a more diverse and inclusive job market, and society in general. Through my project To Face The World I have come into contact with many beautiful people who opened up to me and shared their story of living their life with a visible difference, and their experiences with their visible difference in relation to getting hired and entering the job market. A very personal en interesting topic of research which is also a field that has not been studied academically yet and therefore is highly relevant for the academic world as well as for society in general. @tofacetheworld #sharingstories #inspirationalposts ❤️🌹

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