Facial differences are scars, marks, or conditions that change the structure or look of someone’s face. They can be acquired during your lifetime, or something you’re born with. Kate Stevenson speaks to Phyllida Swift and the charity Changing Faces to learn more about the challenges of living with facial scars and the importance of representation in the media
Facial differences come all forms, and they’re part of what makes each person unique. But they also come with their own set of challenges, misunderstandings, and judgements. Phyllida Swift survived a traumatic accident that left her with visible differences. The model and activist is using her journey to inspire others and reshape the negative narrative surrounding scars.
Phyllida was volunteering in Ghana in 2015 and, while travelling through the night, the van she was in crashed. As well as breaking her spine, she suffered devastating injuries to her face, leading to significant facial scars. “All of a sudden, I was looking at this 22-year- old woman in the mirror who looked nothing like me. I looked like someone I’d only ever seen on screen – like a villain or victim,” remembers Phyllida.
It was a big adjustment, and it took time for Phyllida to re-establish her sense of identity, as well as heal both on the outside and on the inside. “It was incredibly difficult. I felt like myself, but I didn’t look like me anymore,” explains Phyllida.
REDEFINING BEAUTY
Determined not to be seen as a victim, she changed her narrative. “More than anything, I hated the idea that someone might pity me. That’s what drove me, because I didn’t want people to think I would never feel beautiful or confident again. I get to decide that.” The scars that were once a source of her pain became symbols of strength and resilience: “They tell a story of something I’ve been through. They show how strong I am.”
Phyllida acknowledges that societal pressures surrounding appearance can be overwhelming, particularly for women. “We live in a world where there’s so much pressure to look a certain way,” she notes, adding that social media has intensified impossible beauty standards.
“It’s not frivolous,” asserts Phyllida. “I still take pride in how I look, but I reject the idea that anyone should be marginalised because of their appearance.”
REJECTING PERFECTION
UK charity Changing Faces agrees: “There’s an unrealistic expectation around perfection in today’s society,” a spokesperson told us. “Social media shows us images of people with ideal faces, bodies, and lives – it’s hard for anyone to reach these standards.”
The charity says nearly one in five people across the UK self-identify as having a visible difference, but these unattainable standards are still perpetuated. Over half of people with facial difference have dealt with hostile behaviour, and a third have been victims of hate crimes. “The most common are stares and inappropriate comments. But sometimes, these interactions can escalate into something more serious, such as harassment or even physical altercations,” the charity reveals. “When all you’re trying to do is get on with your day, it can be tough to feel like everyone is watching or judging you, simply because of how you look.”
EMPOWERING PORTRAYALS
Changing societal perceptions won’t be easy. People with facial scars or disfigurements have long been portrayed as villains or outcasts in film and television. Phyllida reminds us of the Joker and Bond villains, who have become infamous in the community. “There’s this whole link between disfigurement and evil,” she shares. “The subtext of this is that we’re teaching young, impressionable minds not to trust people with scars, disfigurements and disabilities.”
But it’s not about removing characters with facial differences from the big screen. Instead, Phyllida wants more balanced and accurate portrayals. “What I want to see is incidental, holistic representations of the multifaceted human experience of facial difference,” she suggests. This means giving people with facial differences the chance to play a variety of roles – not just villains – and allowing them to portray themselves on screen, rather than relying on prosthetics.
Positive representation in the media is hugely important for people who are struggling to come to terms with their differences. Phyllida says this acceptance is an ongoing process. “You’re never going to love your scars every single day,” she acknowledges, “but you can accept them and show yourself some self-compassion.”
CELEBRATING UNIQUENESS
For some people, this can be difficult, but there’s no need to suffer in silence. “For anyone struggling with their visible difference, it’s important to reach out and seek support, whether that’s from family and friends or organisations like us,” urges the team at Changing Faces. “Talking through the emotions that stem from your visible difference can help you accept yourself as you are.”
While everyone’s journey is different, it’s clear that society still needs to shift its perspective on visible difference and “eradicate stigma.” Both Phyllida and Changing Faces hope that advocating for better representation in the media will lead to greater acceptance and inclusion. As Phyllida says: “We all deserve to be seen, interacted with, and celebrated for our uniqueness.”