By the time we were setting up the photo shoot my health was failing; by the day of the photo shoot I was feeling really ill. It was a steady spiral past that point.
The day of the photo shoot I wanted to cancel. Not because of how ill I felt, but because I felt completely vulnerable and unsure I could expose my breasts even in the name of a great cause. It’s one thing to be doing topless photos when you feel good about yourself, but when your photos are depicting ‘this is what it can look like when things go really wrong!’ it’s another matter. The only reason I didn’t chicken out was because I knew that my project would push some people out of their comfort zone so I needed to be willing to be pushed out of mine also. When my ‘Celebrate Your Breasts’ ladies are painted and photographed I’ll know what many will be feeling!
For a year prior to explant I hadn’t been able to exercise at all because of a medical condition so I was completely out of shape. The thought of being so ‘out there’ and exposed in a public venue was terrifying. Especially, exposing my implanted breasts which had become hard and misshapen from capsular contracture. I had to dig down deep and remind myself of why I was doing it.
The message in this project is not just about getting the truth of breast implants out, its bottom line message is one of self-esteem and self-love. I hope to inspire women to love and accept themselves. To help them reconnect to, and reclaim their personal power, which can only truly be manifest if we love ourselves (and each other).
My heartfelt thanks to my team: Amanda Hugon (artist); Angie Healey (photographer), and Tym (make-up artist)
