A YOUNG woman whose self-harm has left her with badly scarred legs is helping others accept and celebrate their physical appearance.

Lucy Ingle, 18, from Haverfordwest suffered from anxiety, depression and anorexia in her early teens.

It led to suicidal thoughts and self-harming by cutting the back of her thighs.

Lucy is studying adult nursing at Cardiff University and feels much better, but until recently she was very self-conscious about her scars.

“I went on a girls’ holiday. Everyone was in bikinis – and I was looking at other people’s legs and thinking – oh, that’s not a normal thing to have on my legs,” she said.

“People asked me about them – oh my god, what happened? Are you in pain? It was quite traumatic.”

Lucy’s scars with the Flaunt Your Flaws filter.

Soon afterwards, Lucy decided she would not be defined by her scars.

“I’m thinking do you know what? They are part of me,” she said.

“Why should I be bothered if people are looking at them? They’re there and I’m not going to say I’m proud for doing them. But I’m proud that I went through such a tough time that I felt the need to hurt myself and I’m through that time now.”

Lucy’s insight led her to devise a campaign designed to get people of all ages to accept their appearance, especially any scars or marks they may have on their skin.

Lucy Ingle is encouraging people to celebrate their physical appearances.

She said: “I'm hoping that it will make people understand that marks on their body are normal. Some tell a story and others are just what makes you unique.

“I want people to accept themselves fully, and realise that if someone thinks their mark is ugly or weird, then that opinion should not be listened to!”

With Fixers, the campaign that give young people a voice, Lucy has created a filter with the text Flaunt Your Flaws to put on social media such as Snapchat or Instagram.

“The idea’s to encourage people to host a picture of something they’re insecure about but which they shouldn’t be insecure about, and share it with the world.”

Lucy says her main objectives are to help other realise they are not alone in their struggles.

“We all have insecurities, every one of us,” she said.

“I had my scars and it was such a big thing, and such a big relief when I accepted them. People shouldn’t be ashamed of what they see as flaws.”

Lucy’s project was supported by The Tampon Tax.