Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
RABIE RIDGE - RABIE Ridge resident, Valentine Mabaso is a beauty with brains, and it is this unconventional beauty which inspired her to start up a campaign called Rock Scars.
Because Mabaso’s body is covered in scars due to severe allergies, she started the campaign to promote confidence in women and men who have scars similar to hers. “It is not just about those who have scars due to allergies. I want to touch the lives of burn survivors and those who have undergone surgery which left them scarred,” she said.
Mabaso first started noticing the black spots on her body about eight years ago. The 21-year-old student said she wasn’t always confident in showing them off and as a teenager and had to endure cruel torment from her peers.
“Sometimes I would get called ‘wild cat’ or ‘the human ashtray’ because the spots on my body looked like someone had been putting out their cigarettes on me.” She also said she had tried on numerous occasions to find a cure for her ailment, however, there was none. “My mother was very worried about me and she knew that as a girl in my teens this would kill my self-esteem.
“I went from dermatologist to dermatologist and nothing could be done. I later learned that my condition was chronic.”
Her campaign is based on her ordeal and her aspirations to become a model. “I’ve always wanted to become a model,” said Mabaso.
“The fact that we couldn’t get rid of the scars truly used to tear me apart. However, I’ve found wonderful photographers willing to work with me who aim to present me as the first professional South African model with scars.”
Mabaso, through her campaign, hopes to bring together a community of people with scars to share their stories, and to wear their scars confidently and proudly.
Details: www.facebook.com/Rock-Scars-364246270443194
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