In this episode of The Scars, Joanne shares her story.

She's undergone multiple surgeries to work on the appearance of her cleft nose.

Joanne shares her experiences with bullying, the impact of social media, and her evolving relationship with her scars.

She's also found a purpose through education to change the way other people see those with a visible difference in the media.

Through her journey, she learns to embrace her visible differences and finds confidence in her identity, ultimately redefining her perception of beauty and self-worth.

*Warning Joanne talks in detail about major facial surgery*

Takeaways

Scars can be a powerful reminder of personal journeys.

Surgeries can impact self-image and identity significantly.

Bullying can have lasting effects on confidence and mental health.

Social media can amplify feelings of insecurity and vulnerability.

Community support is crucial in navigating challenges related to visible differences.

Beauty standards can be restrictive and harmful.

Finding pride in one's scars can lead to empowerment.

Education and representation in media can help normalise visible differences.

It's important to prioritise self-worth over societal expectations.

Learning to love the way you look can take time

Chapters

1:03 What a cleft nose actually is

4:09 The rib-graft surgery explained

7:36 High-school bullying & anxiety

17:14 Choosing no more surgery

23:52 Joanne’s master’s research on representation

25:41 Final message: appearances aren’t everything

Resources & support

• Changing Faces – UK charity for visible difference

• NHS page on cleft conditions

Joanne is _joannabelle  on IG

About The Scars

The Scars is a space for conversations about resilience, acceptance, and overcoming life’s obstacles. The show aims to empower listeners to find strength and beauty in their differences while building a supportive and understanding community.

If you want to share the story of your scars you can contact me at [email protected]  

The Scars podcast is also on Instagram come find me there.

For support there are lots of organisations out there including The Scar Free Foundation https://scarfree.org.uk/ and Changing Faces https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/

Sound design by my hugely talented friend Micky Curling and my beautiful illustrations are by Nichola Cowdery

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