A UK charity has launched a series of powerful photos in an exhibition on London’s South Bank to celebrate people’s smiles.
Smile Train UK, the world’s largest cleft-focused charity, showcased unfiltered photos of cleft-affected people on Thursday as part of their campaign, “Beauty in Every Smile.”
It comes as the charity’s research found a third of people with a facial difference have been discriminated against and a quarter bullied.
Author and motivational speaker, Christian Hadjipateras, who is featured at the exhibition was born with a cleft lip and underwent 50 surgeries up until his twenties.
He battled taunts and stares from others for most of his life but remained strong and said people should “celebrate with a smile.”
The 39-year-old, who is a staunch advocate for cleft-affected people, said: “We should all be proud of our smiles. And for us in the cleft community, we thank all those incredible surgeons around the world for making them possible.”
Matilda Lansdown, who is also featured in the exhibition, went through bullying most of her teenage years. She turned to alcohol and drugs to mask her anger until she began working in the fashion and beauty industry at 20.
She said:” It gave me a sense of inclusion. I could wear rainbow lipstick and have glitter everywhere, and the response was, "Amazing”, this is so fun.”
The 32-year-old mum from Edinburgh said: “My cleft is my superpower. I wear it with pride and hope I can inspire and educate others, be the person I needed when I was growing up.”
In the UK, cleft lip affects one in 700 children and 1,200 babies are born with a cleft lip, palate, or a combination of both each year.
Research by Smile Train and Censuswide found that 34% of people living with facial difference in the UK suffer from discrimination, and 30% have experienced bullying, leading to 27% suffering from depression.
The research also found many people exhibited low self-esteem, with over 53% saying they do not love their smile.
The findings prompted Smile Train to launch the Beauty in Every Smile campaign. The images, which will be displayed on 2 metre high panels at the exhibition which will run until October 7, were taken by London-based portrait photographer, Fanny Beckman. Beckman, who uses her work to give voice to pressing social issues, said working on the campaign was a “dream.”
She said: “Smile Train UK’s work is very much in line with my ethos and what I want to achieve with my photography: to raise awareness of stories that historically have been untold.”
“Art is a powerful tool to use to start conversations, and I’ve been fortunate to meet many inspiring people during the photoshoots. I am grateful to all the models for sharing their experiences, and for removing the stigma around being born with a cleft.”
In a statement, Ian Vallance, Director at Smile Train UK, said: “At Smile Train we believe every smile is beautiful. And that by learning more about differences, celebrating diversity in society, and welcoming a more inclusive mindset, we can help to break down these outdated stigmas.”
Smile Train UK’s Beauty in in Every Smile exhibition can be found at: Riverside Slice, Bernie Spain Gardens, Riverside Walkway (by Oxo Tower Wharf), South Bank, London, SE1 9PP.
