They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it's true that everyone has their own standards when it comes to appearances. But on social media, sad to say, most people's looks seem to be more homogenised and less unique than ever. Scroll through Instagram and you'll see that everyone is taking their selfies the same way, using the same filters and poses and camera angles, so that every account is a clone of another. It's pretty aggravating to be honest.
But there are Instagram accounts out there that are more impressive, and champion unconventional looks. For example, take the case of 16-year-old Molly Matthews - an Instagram star with serious psoriasis who has taken it upon herself to prove to her many followers that she's (literally) comfortable in her own skin.
Molly was first diagnosed with the skin condition when she was 11-years-old, which first manifested itself as dandruff on her scalp. A dermatologist diagnosed her with psoriasis, and the itchy red patches of dry skin soon spread across her chest and neck. However, Molly decided to deal with her skin issues positively, and set up her Instagram page to celebrate her 'skin tattoos.'
In recent interview, Molly stated: "Before I set up my Instagram, I hadn’t openly talked about my psoriasis before, so I was a little nervous. I’m tired of people pitying me, or saying I’m brave for showing off my skin. This isn’t brave – it should be the norm. I do get some nasty comments. People ask what’s wrong with me, or tell me my skin looks bad."
"I’ve even had someone tell me not to wear red lipstick as it makes my psoriasis look worse – but that just made me go out of my way to wear it even more. That kind of thing can be incredibly damaging to people struggling with self-esteem, but I actually love my skin. I’m very comfortable having it out, and don’t feel the need to hide. I always say I won’t need tattoos when I’m older, as the psoriasis patches already look like little flower designs."
She added: "I have family members with the condition, so at first I felt quite pessimistic, as I’d seen them struggle. I also go to an all girls’ school, so there’s an awful lot of pressure on looks. At the time of my diagnosis, I was 11- an age when I didn’t want to be different. When it’s something as visible as the skin on your face, though, it’s hard to blend in. Thankfully, the girls at school have been lovely."
"It’s great to see celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Cara Delevingne speak out about it, but it’s also frustrating, as not everyone can afford the expensive treatments they have. I found taking pictures helped a lot. It gave me a chance to properly look at myself and appreciate when I was having a good day. You don’t have to love your psoriasis, but there’s a lot to be said for taking a moment to recognise when you look nice. I don’t think of myself as ugly because of my skin – it’s just part of me."
Personally I think Molly pictures are absolutely stunning, and she's looks great. If we all had her confidence, the world would be a better place.
