A woman who was told she looked like she’d been ‘mauled by a gorilla’ because of her rare skin tearing condition has had the last laugh after being invited to model for Vogue Italia.
Texas native Lucy Beall-Lott, a 21-year-old student at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, has recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) — meaning any friction can cause her skin to shred-off, leaving painful blisters and wounds.
‘I can’t count the amount of times I’ve been told to my face or behind my back that I’d be hot if it weren’t for my scars, or have been referred to as “the girl with the scars” as though they were my only defining feature and negate all other aspects of my appearance or personality,’ she said.
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Strike a pose: Lucy Beall-Lott, 21, from Texas, has been chosen by Vogue Italia to show off her scars as part of Fantabody’s ‘Fantagirl, I Am the Woman I Am’ campaign
Diagnosis: The student at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, has recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), meaning any friction can cause her skin to shred-off
Getting ready: Behind-the-scenes photos from her campaign shoot show her getting her makeup done while modeling leotards and two-piece lingerie sets
Lucy’s condition means she even needs to be careful when brushing her teeth or eating, with scar tissue forming where food grazes her throat.
Her most recent operation involved having skin from her leg grafted on to her hands to try and resolve the ‘mittening’ caused by excessive scar tissue, which had rendered her right hand unusable.
Growing up she would hide her body, with total strangers asking her if she had been in a ‘horrific accident’ or ‘mauled by a gorilla.’
In addition to being a disability advocate, an author, and a student, she also models in order to raise awareness of her condition and show that disability doesn’t have to stand in the way of beauty.
Hard to handle: Growing up she would hide her body, with total strangers asking her if she had been in a ‘horrific accident’ or ‘mauled by a gorilla’
Inclusive: Fantabody’s ‘Fantagirl, I Am the Woman I Am’ campaign celebrates female diversity
Seriously? Lucy said that people will often tell her she would ‘be hot’ if it weren’t for her scars
Goal: Lucy models in order to raise awareness of her condition and show that disability doesn’t have to stand in the way of beauty
Lucy, who studies art history and the classics, has been chosen by Vogue Italia to appear in Fantabody’s ‘Fantagirl, I Am the Woman I Am’ campaign, which celebrates female diversity.
Behind-the-scenes photos from the empowering shoot show her striking a pose while modeling two-piece lingerie sets and leotards that reveal the red marks on her legs and arms.
In one image, she has on a pink leotard with a stomach cutout and is being photographed on all fours. Another shows her standing on one leg while gazing at the camera.
There are also pictures of Lucy getting her makeup done on set while wearing a sheer leotard that reveals the black bra and underwear she has on underneath.
Life: Lucy was diagnosed with RDEB when she was just a few hours old. She has needed to shield her fragile skin with bandages to prevent potentially deadly infection
Proud: After learning to embrace her condition and revealing her scarring online four years ago, Lucy started modeling for lingerie brands such as Label Press
College life: As a student at the University of St Andrews, she is studying art history and classics
‘I know that I have a terminal condition; it’s going to make my life shorter, but I’ve known that for 21 years,’ Lucy said. ‘I could see my scars as something I’m fighting against, or I could see my body as something working to keep me alive — which is better?’
Lucy was diagnosed with RDEB when she was just a few hours old. She has needed to shield her fragile skin with bandages to prevent potentially deadly infection, and growing up she would hide her body.
But after learning to embrace her condition and revealing her scarring online four years ago, Lucy started modeling for lingerie brands such as Label Press.
She is now proud to show off her wounds after never previously believing her condition would be considered ‘beautiful.’