By Sylvia Mac
“I was the young lady who walked into the model agency and was asked to leave for having scars. I never had any dreams but now I dream every night and they are all coming true. You CAN achieve your dreams”.
In January of this year Sylvia Mac invited 20 people to take part in a swimwear photoshoot so together she and others could challenge the fashion industry to become inclusive of those with disfigurement and differences. There were 12 females, 5 males and 3 children all who had scars, health and skin conditions. The people in the photoshoot were of gender, age, size, ethnicity, disability and of course disfigurements or differences.
This is her story of that incredible day.
“It was a stressful time as I had never done anything before that led me to have a lead role. As a burn survivor I hadn’t achieved very much in my life due to body hating and low self esteem. I spent my time looking up to everyone and believed I wasn’t capable to achieve anything. It was also very difficult for me to communicate with anyone of importance.
When the day finally came, it was nerve racking but everyone was so nice and very excited to take part in the photoshoot. I found the venue in Stoke Newington Resevoir Better Centre who kindly gave us two rooms to create the photos and waived the fee. I also had a photographer Sophie Mayanne who gave her time for free and another photographer, Becky Dann, who took behind the scenes photos”.
Rebbeca Dann, who won our “A World of Unfairness” photographic competition, and who took photos at the launch on behalf of Disability Talk
“On face book I managed to find 3 make up artists and 3 hair stylists, it was amazing. Swimwear 365, the largest online retailer in swimwear gifted all the bikinis and costumes for the women, men and children. We also had lunch and refreshments gifted by Disability Talk and Swimwear 365. I realised that all the networking that I had done the year prior had paid off. All these wonderful people wanted to support the photoshoot along with all the models.
In March, I launched the photos at a location in Marble Arch where I invited the Press and Media to recognise why we created the photoshoot. I had previously been invited onto BBC Radio London with Jo Good to tell my story and leak the launch. A wonderful charity, Dans Fund for Burns kindly put funds forward to pay for the venue and refreshments.
All I had to do was order panel boards, prints, goody bags and have my speech ready. I invited the wonderful Sharron Davies MBE, TV Sports Presenter and Olympic swimmer. I was overwhelmed when she travelled from her hometown in Bath to London just to be part of this wonderful launch. Sharron got up on stage and gave a short speech along with the lovely Sally Bee who helps me with my website and is always on hand to give advice.
Sharron Davies MBE speaks at the launch
When it was time to give my speech, I decided to disregard what I had written down and spoke from the heart. It went really well and I enjoyed every moment. At the end of the speeches, a screen came down and showed the photos with a lovely song ‘this is me’. I couldn’t believe I was sat next to Coronation Street actress Melissa Johns squeezing my hand because I couldn’t hold back the tears”.
Coronation Street star, Melissa Johns, attended the launch.
“It was at this moment I realised what I had done and it was overwhelming. As an extra bonus my lovely friend brought Maxine Jones from the Lorraine Show and Chritian Vit from Holby City.
In April, I began to appear in online news and blogs. I was invited with my models onto ITV ‘This Morning’ with Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield. I took 4 ladies with me and and they all wore their swimwear and told their individual stories. I explained to the hosts why we wanted to challenge the fashion industry to be diverse and inclusive of us. They quickly invited us back to appear on their fashion item where we walked their runway in swimwear dressed by the wonderful Gok Wan. Myself and the models had so much fun and we appeared in The Sun, Daily Mail, Independent Online News directly after the show”.
Sylvia Mac’s ongoing campaign.
“My campaign is still ongoing and I am yet to appear in some more national newspapers and magazines. I’m hoping to be invited onto another show so I can keep sharing our message. The most important part of my journey is that I now have a lead role and I love every minute of it. I adore all the people around me that I continue to meet but instead of putting everyone above me, I now include myself in that journey. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and all the models who put on swimwear and managed to smile through the photos. Some of these models have continued to go from strength to strength”.
“I still receive messages from around the world and it makes me feel happy when people say, ‘Thank you for sharing these these photos and your story, you’ve changed my life’. Who would’ve thought someone like me can achieve something so amazing and yet struggle all my life with my confidence. I’m so happy with everything I continue to achieve and I would love to travel the UK and the World to continue helping others and share my knowledge to help change people’s lives. Since the launch, I have received 2 awards and have become the ‘go to’ person for people with with differences and disfigurement. I enjoy being a campaigner and it’s amazing when people approach me to work with me. Once the Fashion Houses, Designer Brands become more inclusive, I will be ready to move onto my next campaign. I am also asking the Leisure Industries and their Centres to use our images and encourage swimming for Every Body.”
“I was the young lady who walked into the model agency and was asked to leave for having scars. I never had any dreams but now I dream every night and they are all coming true. You CAN achieve your dreams.”