Let’s face it: Everyone has something they don’t like about themselves. Whether it’s a body part, a recurring pimple, or even an uncontrollable laugh, we all have that one major insecurity we just can’t shake. For me, it’s always been a pink, uneven scar curved around the right side of my mouth I got from a dog bite when I was 5. Originally, I wanted to write a story about how I came to accept it, but I didn’t realize I never really had. That is, until I got to know the five girls you’re about to meet.
We initially cast these girls to illustrate my own personal story, but within minutes I knew the piece was going to change. Just being around these other people who had similar experiences and scars gave me a whole new perspective. I always assumed my scar was the first thing anyone noticed about me (I mean, it is right in the middle of my face…), but I hardly noticed theirs at all. Actually, I thought they were cool. I’d spent two decades hating my mark, and it only took five minutes for these girls to help me see the beauty in it. Just like model Adau Mornyang told me: “We all have scars, some you can see, some you can’t. I’m lucky you can see mine.” After all these years — and tubes of concealer — I have to agree.
Cat Darling
How did you get your scar? You have two right?
I actually have more! I have one on my chin and one on my cheek, too. I have 36 stitches on my face. One scar I got from falling down the stairs when I was a baby. I got another one from 3rd grade field day — that was a good one! A boy threw a rock at me and it hit me!
Geez! Did you ever consider getting rid of them?
I guess because I got this one before I could remember, I feel like I was born with a scar. I’ve always had — it’s just my face! Plus, I like being different and neither of my brothers had scars on their faces so I was kind of a badass.
What advice would you give young girls who are feeling different?
Love yourself. You weren’t created to be like everyone else. If you have a scar, you have a scar. I have so many and I love each and every single one of them! People think it’s such a big deal, but it’s a beautiful thing to be different. Love it!
Adau Mornyang
How did you get your scar?
I was three years old and my mom was cooking and left me next to a pot for like five seconds. Somehow I got close to it and started playing with the fire and then the little sparks started flying everywhere and went on my mouth.
Do you remember it at all?
No, which is a good thing! I don’t remember the pain.
Have you ever thought of getting rid of it?
Of course, last year I spent almost the whole year trying to find the right doctor. I flew to see one doctor who saw it and said he couldn’t do anything. He contacted five other surgeons but none of them could help either. They were like, this scar is 18 years old, surgery or lasers will just make it worse. There was no point. It’s not that big and it doesn’t bother me at all!
Did people ever say bad things to you?
Growing up, people always said, “You’re never going to get kissed by a guy!” [Laughs.] But, it’s really not a big deal!
How do you feel about it now?
Now I’m starting to embrace it more. I’m starting to appreciate it because I’m unique! I’m in the modeling industry where you have to be perfect, so being able to work with a scar is really good. I feel special!
You are! What advice would you give young girls dealing with something that they feel insecure about?
Embrace it! People are going to bully you throughout life no matter what — that’s life. People will have opinions and always dislike something about you. You have to love yourself first because if someone doesn’t like something about you, and you don’t like it yourself, that’s going to knock you out.
What do you do when people ask you about it?
Most of the time, people come up to me and tell my I have chocolate on my mouth. [Laughs.] And I’m trying to wipe it off and they’re like, it’s still there! Then I have to say, it’s not chocolate, it’s a scar… It’s funny sometimes, I just laugh! And if they want to know the story behind it, I tell them. I was young, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about! We all have scars, some you can see, some you can’t. I’m lucky you can see mine.
Keelin McMahon
How did you get your scar?
I was three years old, in my basement in Virginia, playing on some crates and fell off! My mom had to take me to get stitches because my dad couldn’t handle it.
Did you ever want to get rid of it?
Oh yeah, especially when I was younger. Like, on school picture day you could always see it. Some days it was more noticeable and people would ask me about it. I started seeing commercials for scar medicines and that was something I thought about, but I also had sensitive skin so I was afraid that they would clog my pores and give me zits. I’ll stick with the scar over zits any day!
When did you start embracing it?
I think it was more middle school to high school age when I actually did start to get acne. That was something I was more conscious of than a scar I could do nothing about. It just became this thing I forgot was even there most of the time until someone would bring it up. Now it’s just part of my skin, it’s been there since I can remember.
How do you feel about it now?
I wouldn’t do anything about it. I feel like my face would look weird without it! I wouldn’t look like myself if I didn’t have it. I’ve done makeup before where I’ve tried to cover it up and I notice more when it’s gone than when it’s there, if that makes sense. [Laughs.]
Mollye Rogel
How did you get your scar?
I was two years old and there was a brick wall in our apartment. I think I was trying to be a zombie one day and just like walked right into the wall! I had to get a lot of stitches. Then, after I got the stitches out, I was running and re-opened them and then it got bigger.
Did you ever want to get rid of it?
No, I never really thought about it. When I was little I always had bangs down to my eyebrows until I was like 13 because it made me so self conscious and I didn’t want anyone to see it. But I got used to it and now I actually like it. It’s just like any other beauty mark.
What advice would you give to young girls who are insecure about something like this?
I think it’s hard. When you’re younger, it’s hard to listen to people telling you what to think. But, the most important thing is to wait it out a little bit and try to think about the other things you love about yourself.
Yanii Gough
How did you get your scar?
Fighting! It was a case of mistaken identity… A girl had a box cutter in her hand, but I didn’t know. It happened so fast, that was about six years ago.
Was there ever a time when you wanted to get rid of it?
I actually wanted to have the laser surgery done and then everyone was like, no it fits you, it’s so cool, you have a story behind it! And then I started looking in the mirror a few days after that and realized it doesn’t look that bad! I have like keloid skin runs in my family, but it didn’t keloid so I’m happy about that.
What advice would you give young girls dealing with their own scars?
Rock that scar! Rock. That. Scar. Don’t be afraid! I feel like everything happens for a reason and there’s a reason why I have my scar. I wouldn’t be able to tell my story if I didn’t have it.
Cat wears a Max Mara sweater, $550. Max Mara, 451 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Adau wears an À Moi top, $450. Amoniny.com. Sorelle earring, $185. Sorellenyc.com. Keelin wears Established Jewelry earrings, $318. Brokenenglishjewelry.com. Yanii wears a See by Chloé sweater, $365. Similar styles available at Neiman Marcus.