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Confidence campaign urges girls to embrace flaws

"I want to encourage girls and women to embrace their 'flaws' and scars, whether they be physical or emotional,"

A TOTI model and beauty queen has used her experience in battling depression to launch a confidence campaign to inspire girls to look past their flaws and be proud of who they are.

Angelique Janssen (20) of Athlone Park said the aim of her ‘Embrace’ campaign is also to help teenagers who suffer from depression and anxiety, and those who self-mutilate.

“I want to encourage girls and women to embrace their ‘flaws’ and scars, whether they be physical or emotional,” said the ex-Kuswag Skool pupil.

“My campaign was inspired by the big scar that I have on my arm from a suicide attempt when I was in grade 8. During my modelling career I always tried to hide it, but I realised it’s part of me and made me who I am today. I now share all these dramatic events in my life with others through my campaign.

Instead of hiding their scars and ‘flaws’, I want to encourage women to embrace them

Our scars often tell the stories of the strong women we have become and they are a sign of the battles we have fought and won. Instead of hiding their scars and ‘flaws’, I want to encourage women to embrace them.”

The topic is close to Angelique’s heart as she battled depression in grade 7 and 8, despite the fact she grew up in a loving household with caring parents.

“I self-mutilated for more than a year as a teenager and now I want to help other teenagers and women who are hiding their scars.

Each day I face my physical and emotional scars. You only have two options – you can either let them define you and allow them to drag you down, or you can learn to embrace them and find the beauty in them.

Since I’ve made the choice to find the beauty in my scars and ‘flaws’, I’ve led a much happier, positive and confident life. I want that for every other girl who may face the same or similar issues that I did.”

Angelique grew up in the spotlight and on the runway. She competed in the International Arts Talent Showcase in Orlando, USA in 2014. In the same year she was crowned Miss Teen KZN.

She was affiliated with Childline KZN’s anti-bullying campaign and many of the programmes she helped set up in local schools are still going strong.

She launched her ‘Embrace’ campaign at a Mother’s Day event in Ballito on 7 May and the positive response has been overwhelming. Her mission for the campaign is to go to schools and reach out to girls and touch their hearts with this message.

“I am working as a professional make-up artist and model and I still teach modelling in Amanzimtoti,” said Angelique.

“I am furthering my studies to become a professional stylist which will assist me to work in front of and behind the cameras. My goal to take my acting and modelling career international has not changed. With the current exchange rate, it is impossible for me to study in New York but I will overcome these obstacles. At the young age of 20, I firmly believe that I am now only at the beginning of my path to success.”

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