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Sara Geurts is 27 years old, but she was born with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which makes her skin unusually elastic. Because of her condition, she is often thought to be twice her age.
Ever since her story spread throughout the web, she’s been using her influence as a model to empower other women to speak out, be heard and be represented.
Together with her partner, photographer Briana Berglund, she conceptualized a photoshoot—one that spreads the message of inclusivity and diversity. The results are both beautiful and deeply empowering.
The group was made up of curvy women, women with vitiligo, women who had physical and mental disabilities, women of color and women with rare medical conditions.
One of the models, Sarah Macdonald, 20, said, “We wanted to send the message that all of us are equal and beautiful in our own way. No matter where you came from, your ethnicity, body type, or health condition.”
Growing up, Sarah hid her birthmark because she felt like she never fit in.
“There was a time that I would wear sweatshirts on the hottest of days just to cover my skin,” she confessed. “I dreaded summertime because that meant the possibility of wearing a bikini. I’ve been asked by so many people if I was in a fire, if I had poison ivy all over my body, or if I had hickeys everywhere.”
Though self-love didn’t come easy, by the time she had reached high school, she learned to accept and love her body.
“As a kid, I viewed it as this ugly part of myself, when in reality it is the most beautiful part of myself,” she said.
“It was such an empowering feeling to be standing next to all of these beautiful women with different backgrounds and body types. I wish I knew as a kid that one day I’d be involved in something so powerful like this.”