Changing Faces

21/05/2026

"I would avoid wearing anything that would show off my back and I would even wear hoodies in the height of summer."

For years, campaigner Katie hid her scoliosis under heavy clothes, even in hot weather. Enjoying summer with a visible difference was hard, until she decided to put her own comfort first. Today, she shares her story:

"I have Kyphosis Scoliosis, which causes severe curvature of the spine.

"Until 2022, I’d never been to the beach in a swimsuit, at least not since I was little. I was so afraid of what people would say or do. In the past, I’ve had people stare, whisper or make unwanted comments and for a long time it made me feel ashamed, as if my visible difference is something I should cover up.

"As I’ve got older, I’ve learnt that I shouldn’t have to conceal any part of myself to make myself “acceptable” to other people. Do the stares and whispers still make me uncomfortable? Yes. But I was uncomfortable when I was covering up in the heat of summer, too. I’m proud of who I am, and I shouldn’t have to hide.

"When I decided to wear a swimsuit to the beach while on holiday, it was nerve-wracking. However, it turned out to be a really positive experience!

After a while, it wasn’t anywhere near as scary as I imagined it would be – I even did it more than once that holiday. It felt so empowering, and it gave me that push and confidence to go out my comfort zone more often.

"It hasn’t been easy to get to this point. It’s been years of work and there are still some days where I do want to cover up. On these days, I try to 'fake it till I make it'. I walk into a room like I deserve to be there: because I do. I wear the shorts, the cute dresses and the swimsuits, regardless.

"If you’re on the journey to finding your confidence, take it a day at a time, be kind to yourself, and surround yourself with the right people. You deserve to enjoy summer too."

☀️ Summer can be tough for people with visible differences, with more time outside sometimes bringing more stares or comments. At Changing Faces UK, we're here to support you with any questions or concerns related to your visible difference.

Get in touch with our Support & Information line via 0300 012 0275 🦋

20/05/2026

“Since getting support from Changing Faces, I have set myself a goal for 2026 to learn to love my bald self.”

After developing alopecia areata, Tracey felt that she’d lost her identity. For years, she’s hidden behind wigs, but following Changing Faces’ support, she’s on a mission of self-acceptance.

“I noticed my first patch when I was nineteen. It wasn’t until I was thirty years old that I completely lost all my hair.

“I was known as the girl with the amazing hair, so developing alopecia areata was incredibly challenging for me, and has impacted me massively over the years. I felt like I’d lost my identity.

“Embracing my bald head hasn’t come easily to me. I have only been brave enough to go out bald once and that was last year while on a solo holiday in Cyprus. A waitress in a cafe commented that it was good that I was in remission, as she thought I had cancer. I smiled and agreed with her, because I didn’t want to have to explain my condition to her. This was upsetting and frustrating.

“My dermatologist suggested that I look into support from Changing Faces. I had heard of the charity before, but I had never considered that Changing Faces could help people with alopecia.

“The support I received from Changing Faces has helped me more than I ever thought it could. It’s made such a difference to the way I think about my visible difference. Now I follow the mantra “be kind to yourself”. It’s so important to be gentle with yourself and be your own support team. I am one hundred percent “Team Tracey” moving forward.”

Tracey’s story: https://social.changingfaces.org.uk/6FR2kz

19/05/2026

“When I receive unsolicited advice, it makes me feel invalidated.” - campaigner Stacey

This , campaigner Stacey shares her experiences of comments and assumptions made about her son’s cleft.

Assumptions and opinions can minimise the reality of living with a visible difference, and minimise the experiences of families navigating countless appointments, several surgeries, challenges and everyday misunderstandings.

No two cleft journeys are the same, and we’re thinking of everyone experiencing similar challenges related to their child’s cleft, as Stacey is navigating with Dylan.

If you would like to speak to someone about navigating comments and assumptions towards your visible difference, get in touch. Our Support & Information Line can be reached on 0300 012 0275.

For more information and to celebrate , visit 💚

19/05/2026

“When I receive unsolicited advice, it makes me feel invalidated.” - campaigner Stacey

This , campaigner Stacey shares her experiences of comments and assumptions made about her son’s cleft.

Assumptions and opinions can minimise the reality of living with a visible difference, and minimise the experiences of families navigating countless appointments, several surgeries, challenges and everyday misunderstandings.

No two cleft journeys are the same, and we’re thinking of everyone experiencing similar challenges related to their child’s cleft, as Stacey is navigating with Dylan.

If you would like to speak to someone about navigating comments and assumptions towards your visible difference, get in touch. Our Support & Information Line can be reached on 0300 012 0275.

For more information and to celebrate , visit 💚

19/05/2026

15/05/2026

Face Equality Week 2026 📢

We've had such a fantastic week celebrating Face Equality Week and encouraging people to Think Before You Speak!

A huge thank you to everyone who supported the campaign, whether you donated, shared your story, joined the conversation, or helped amplify our message. Your support has made a real difference.

A special thank you goes to our amazing campaigners and ambassadors for speaking out and sharing their experiences, especially in the media. You've helped shine a light on the lasting impact that comments and assumptions can have on a person’s confidence and wellbeing.

We were also excited to launch our very first webinar this week. Thank you to everyone who attended, submitted questions, and supported this new step for us. We’re so excited to host more in the future.

Together, we’re helping to create a kinder, more understanding world where everyone feels seen, respected, and valued. 🦋

13/05/2026

“Tulsi really was a shining star and a positive force for good. She absolutely loved our I Am Not Your Villain campaign, as a huge Audrey Hepburn fan she said it was a dream come true for her.” , filmmaker and creator of our I Am Not Your Villain campaign.

We are deeply saddened to share the passing of our much-loved ambassador and friend, Tulsi Vagjiani.

Tulsi was a powerful voice for the visible difference community and an extraordinary advocate for Changing Faces. Through her campaigning, storytelling and compassion for others, she inspired countless people to embrace themselves with confidence and speak up for change.

Those who knew Tulsi will remember her warmth, kindness and vivacious energy. She brought light wherever she went and made so many people feel seen and valued.

Tulsi’s legacy will live on through the community she helped build, the conversations she changed, and the many people she empowered through her courage and generosity.

Thank you, Tulsi, for everything you gave to our community. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered. 🤍

If you would like to share a tribute to the memory of Tulsi, which will be published on our website, please get in touch with us. We have already received some wonderful tributes we look forward to sharing.

12/05/2026

Ambassador Laura and campaigner Marc are here today to let parents know that it’s ok if their child is expressing curiosity at someone’s scar, mark or condition. Curiosity is natural. What matters is how we respond to it.

It’s day two of Face Equality Week and we’re asking people to think before they speak. The words adults use about visible difference carry weight, and children learn from examples around them.

Responding to curiosity with kindness and respect will help us build a kinder, more inclusive world 🌎

Learn more about Face Equality Week: https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/get-involved/connect-with-a-community-who-understand/?utm_source=instagram-stories&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=face-equality-week&utm_content=launch-post

12/05/2026

Ambassador Laura and campaigner Marc are here today to let parents know that it’s ok if their child is expressing curiosity at someone’s scar, mark or condition. Curiosity is natural. What matters is how we respond to it.

It’s day two of Face Equality Week and we’re asking people to think before they speak. The words adults use about visible difference carry weight, and children learn from examples around them.

Responding to curiosity with kindness and respect will help us build a kinder, more inclusive world 🌎

Learn more about Face Equality Week through the link in our bio.

11/05/2026

"The only time I think about my visible difference, is when other people make it an issue.”

It’s , and this year, we’re coming together to change the way the world sees difference.

94% of people living with a visible difference lack confidence and self-esteem, our latest survey shows.

Too often, that confidence is shaped by the reactions of others.

That’s why we’re building a community focused on connection, support, and action.

✨ Join us today and be part of what comes next.


Sign up, stay connected, and help shape a more inclusive future: https://social.changingfaces.org.uk/1Eby3h

08/05/2026

“I’ve never felt more included.”

Campaigner Vikki entered her first pageant expecting to feel out of place because of her facial difference. Instead, she discovered a warm, inclusive community that embraced her as she is:

"Living with a visible difference changes how you walk into spaces. You anticipate being noticed. Judged. Quietly excluded. I went into my first pageant assuming I wouldn't fit in. But from the moment I arrived, something didn’t match that expectation.

"We were given an induction talk at the start of the weekend. It was simple, but powerful: include everyone. If someone is standing alone, invite them in. If you’re taking a photo, make space. It could have felt like a box-ticking exercise, but it wasn’t.

"Within hours, I noticed something shift in me. Not because anyone made a big effort to include me, but because inclusion was just… normal. I remember sitting there thinking: 'Oh wow. I’m part of this.' Not on the outside looking in. Not tolerated. Not 'brave' for being there. There were no side glances. No awkward moments. No sense that I needed to explain myself. I was just 'one of the women'.

"And the women themselves challenged everything I thought about pageants. There were women with PhDs working to improve children’s mental health. Women training to be pilots. Running businesses. Leading. They were ambitious, grounded, and supportive of each other.

"When I walked on stage, something unexpected happened. I didn’t feel like I was pretending to be someone else. I felt like I had stepped into a version of myself that had always been there. Confident. Commanding. Completely at ease. That woman wasn’t new, she just hadn’t had the space to exist before.

"So often, when you live with a visible difference, you decide where you do and don’t belong before anyone else has the chance to. You assume the outcome and limit yourself. The place I thought I wouldn’t belong became the place I felt most included. You might not need to change to belong. You might just need to walk in."

If, like Vikki, you want to build your confidence in new spaces, explore the support and practical resources available from Changing Faces: https://social.changingfaces.org.uk/uQxChn