The Taboo Issue

LOVEHONEY: BREAKING THE STIGMA

SURGERY: THE BOTCHED TRUTH

BEHIND THE SCREEN: PORN VS REALITY

FlaweD

WEmily Ella Lily from

hen you’re talking with your girlfriends, there seems to be no topic off the table. So why do we find ourselves embarrassed by embracing subjects our society tells us not to? We wanted our Taboo Issue to start the conversation and cover content free of judgment. At Flawed, we always try to create a safe space. We hope this gets you talking.

All our love,

C O N T

Editors letter

In this issue, no topic is off-limits, so we hope you enjoy our refreshing honesty.

The contents

Welcome! We have spotlighted the main features for you to enjoy.

1

Myth busters

Flawed puts beauty products to the test, so you don’t have to. 6

Beyond Labels

Fashion is an expression of our individuality, so why are we judged for it?

10

Exploring Endometriosis

Unveiling the silent struggle: One woman’s fertility journey.

15

22

Love honey: breaking taboos

Former CEO on his experience in the sex toy industry.

Beyond the screen

Navigating the divide between pornography and real-life intamacy.

27

30

The botched truth Investigating the taboo of cosmetic procedures and the stark reality of surgical beauty.

INSIDE

As women, we are constantly being told the myth to invest in expensive products for better results and better ingredients. The pressure to splash our cash can be overwhelming and the products can be ineffective. Here at Flawed, we bring you a break down of the best face, body and hair products at prices we can all afford. All our love, The Flawed girlies xx

A girl'S world

Myth-Busters

13.50

Did you know Primark have their own beauty rage? Ps… products offer high-end ingredients at a much lower cost. You can find Ps.. Niacinamide

Boasting Serum in stores for just £3.50. It claims to have ingredients which are good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, scar healing and dark spots. Some of the ingredients include Niacinamide and zinc. We have found that this product includes 68% of the same ingredients as our high end product when using Skinsort.com- though it isn’t as concentrated meaning that you shouldn’t use as much product. Overall, this product is just as good for a fraction of the price of some other higher end products.

£7

Revolution’s Niacinamide serum can be

£54

Sunday Riley’s Niacinamide serum can be found online and in store at John Lewis for £54. When researching this product’s ingredients and comparing it to the Revolution serum, the ingredients were almost identical. The main difference was that this product has turmeric and root extract aiming to soothe the skin, as well as hydrate. This boosts the price by almost seven times the price of Revolution’s serum. In Flawed’s opinion, this is not worth the price due to the ingredients being virtually identical to Revolution’s.

1The ‘Spa’ range from Primark is a mineral-enriched and freshly scented collection. With nods to the White Company’s Spa products, is this body cream the real deal? At a price point of £3.50, the lotion promotes a distinct and calming scent. This high-end body moisturiser is infused with shea butter and a fresh lime, rose and sandalwood scent. The Arran ‘after the rain’ body cream is priced at £26. The aromatic option could be considered an investment, with the size and price of this lotion. Compared to the other listed body creams, Flawed

HAIR

1The high-end, Dr. Barbara Sturm ‘Super Anti-Aging Shampoo’ retails on average for £50. The shampoo can be accompanied by a matching conditioner that is supposed to restore and repair damaged or lifeless hair. The product also has a 100% clean and vegan formula. The main marketed aspect of this ‘rich and creamy’ formula is its ability to strengthen your scalp and achieve an ‘anti-splitting effect.’ Is this product worth it?

For £13 cheaper, the Olaplex bond and maintenance shampoo also claims to restore moisture and prevent split ends. Admittedly, each product on this page only lists a selection of the same active ingredients as this luxury option.

2

Possibly the most renowned haircare duo, Olaplex Bond Maintenance

Shampoo and Conditioner is typically found in mid to high-range retailers.

The perfect pair is commonly used by hairdressers for damaged hair. Olaplex curates their products with an ingredient specifically designed to repair broken hair bonds. Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate works like magic from the bottle.

3

If you’re looking for Olaplex on a budget then the Revolution Bond Plex combo retail for just £10 each. This vegan, cruelty-free and student-friendly option is not as different to other ‘restoring’ hair care you can find on the market. Sodium benzoate is found at each price point. From high-end to affordable, there is less difference than you think.

ARE YOU FOLLOWING FLAWED?

FLAWED WANTS YOU TO FOLLOW

bEYOND lables

Fashion is an expression of our individuality, so why are we judged for it?

It was only when I attended University that I realised how much of a ‘sad excuse’ of a girl I really am. Not knowing what concealer was, or how to curl my hair properly, were the main challenges I had for trying to ace teenage girlhood. Little did I know, in the grand scheme of things, I was on the verge of being mislabelled as a bisexual or a lesbian by my new peers; purely down to how I threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt! Fashion can be a tool where people can

has become a paramount part of relating to your girlfriends, who may seem years ahead of you in knowing the ultimate girl lifehacks. Over the past few decades, we have been subtly conditioned into labelling each other based on our fashion sense and even certain brands we would own. The influence of 2000 American high school chick flicks,

a complex terrain where stereotypes merge with personal style, and in my case, this was happening faster than I could learn the words to ‘2 become 1’ by the Spice Girls. It seemed so much easier when I was younger. You woke up and pulled on whatever you had lying on your bedroom floor and went about your day. The pressure to fit within a certain stereotype

average house-party from within my box dorm room. This resulted in my flatmates insisting I was more of a ladette than one of

the girlies. Even though there was never any sourness about it, people still made a point about it. By this time it seemed that my fashion sense was the issue, but how did we get to this way of thinking? With Baggy jeans and bandanna tops creating a stereotype for the urban skater girl, and flowy dresses expressing the cottage core aesthetic, it seems that the latest trends are controlling our identities - including how others assume our sexuality. I found that the more I styled myself in jeans and baggy clothes, I would be viewed as a ‘masculine girl’ but when I wore a dress on a night out, I was suddenly seen as the most feminine girl of all time. Either way I couldn’t just be seen as myself: a girl who surfs, listens to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and loves the humour of friends.

“Every Woman deserves to be UNAPOLOGETICALLY AUTHENTIC

I believe that the time has come to for our perspectives to change. Having recently turned twenty, I have run out of f*cks to give about other people’s assumptions. As we unravel the layers of stereotypes, let us strive for a fashion landscape that celebrates diversity, empowers individuality, and break out of the confines of labels. So, the point I’m trying to make is, that if you want to go to the pub dressed in a mini skirt or a pair of jeans and drink a pint instead of a glass of wine, then you bloody well go and do it. After all, every woman deserves to be unapologetically authentic.

About 1 in 7 women are diagnosed with Breast Cancer during their lifetime.

Touch- feel for a lump or other changes Look- for changes in shape and texture

Check- with your GP if you find any changes

“

I was diagnosed when I was 22 with endometriosis. I now have two sets of twins”. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence found that endometriosis affects 1.5 million women in the UK. Lindsey Ballard, 45 opened up about her struggle with conception.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. The prevalence of endometriosis in women with infertility is about 30–50%. Ballard, recalled the reasoning for her initial doctor’s appointment that later led to her diagnosis. “I was constantly bleeding even throughout the month after my cycle, I had chronic stomach pain, and there was never a break.”

Symptoms

Symptoms can vary for everyone, however, if you’re experiencing things such as significant pelvic pain, pain during your period that stops you from carrying out normal activities, nausea, constipation and even pain during sex it could be endometriosis. If you think you’re experiencing these symptoms, visit a GP.

Diagnosis

The Endometriosis UK website reported that a diagnosis for the condition takes an average

of 7.5 years. The only procedure that can identify and diagnose endometriosis is a laparoscopy. This is where a camera is inserted into the pelvis via a small cut near the navel. Ballard went through this invasive process three times. Her personal diagnosis journey lasted three years. “I started with symptoms when I was probably 22 and the symptoms went on until I was diagnosed at 25. It took me three years to get diagnosed.” After her diagnosis, Ballard began the process of managing her condition.

Treatment

Although there is no treatment for endometriosis, there are ways to manage your diagnosis. Less intrusive treatments are typically hormone medicines and contraceptives. Or, you can have patches of endometriosis tissue removed or even removal surgery for organs affected by the endometriosis – this can include the removal of your womb.

"they said the only way they could help would be a \ hysterectomy."

Fertility

One of the major impacts of this condition is the effects it can have on fertility. One in 10 women of reproductive age have endometriosis. Ballard openly spoke about her assisted fertility journey. “I started my fertility journey in 2000 and had my first set of twins in 2004.” Ballard went through the IUI (Intrauterine insemination) process, where she was artificially inseminated in hopes she would fall pregnant. As a part of this process, Ballard explained she was placed into an early menopause. “They put me in early menopause to treat the endometriosis, I had that for 6 months. It wasn’t nice, I put on a lot of weight, I was very uncomfortable and just kept ballooning up all the time, it was horrible.” Despite the discomfort, Ballard was able to conceive. “We found out that we were pregnant with twins.” At a different stage of her life and with a new partner, Ballard went on to have another set of twins. “Twelve years later, I had another set of twins, but they were natural.”

Managing Endometriosis

Ballard has lived with her diagnosis for 20 years. After being asked how she manages her endometriosis in later life, she replied: “I think my pain thresholds just changed that much that I deal with it…because I

Symptoms of Endometriosis

- Pain in your lower tummy or back (pelvic pain) – usually worse during your period

- Period pain that stops you doing your normal activities

- Pain during or after sex

- Pain when peeing or pooing during your period

- Feeling sick, constipation, diarrhoea, or blood in your pee or poo during your period

- Difficulty getting pregnant

had so many problems with my endometriosis, they said the only way they could help would be a hysterectomy (removal of the womb).” Although prepared to go through with the surgery, Ballard was offered a less aggressive treatment. “I’ve had the Mirena coil fitted which has been great… It took around nine weeks for my body to adjust, then after that, it’s been fine. I’ve had no problems.” The Mirena coil is a hormonal coil that is inserted into your womb as a form of birth control. This is one option offered to manage endometriosis.

Advice

Having experienced a positive fertility journey with endometriosis, Ballard lent some optimistic advice for someone struggling with their diagnosis. “It’s not nice to be told that there could be a possibility that you can’t have children, but there’s so much that they can do now. Never say never because there’s no reason why you can’t go on to have children.”

Does this

OFFEND you?

We live in a taboo-filled world, where male pleasure is the norm but women’s pleasure is brushed under the carpet. These images are what unites us.

LoVeHoNEY: BREAKING TAB00S

written & designed by

Lovehoney. A word you may have heard of before, and perhaps purchased from prior to this feature. An online sexual realm, filled to the brim with the latest sex toys, lube essentials and even bondage gear. With all of this sexual wellness at our fingertips, it is almost impossible to stop and think about who abolished the taboo around women’s sexual pleasure. Enter Neal Slateford, the co-founder and newly retired CEO of Lovehoney.

Where it all began

“When we started, the ambition was to earn enough money so that we didn’t actually have to have a proper job, that was it. After about a year, I remember sending an email to my business partner, (Richard Longhurst) saying, ‘I really think we’re on to something here’”. Fast-forward twen ty-two years, Neal begins to reminisce: “It was the year 2000 and we could both see that the Internet was becoming very mainstream. We started

from the point of view of wanting to do an e-commerce business rather than a sex toy business particularly. So, we looked at lots of different things like cross stitching and embroidery and needle craft but then we stumbled

Back then, it seemed almost impossible to simply buy a sex toy. “If you wanted to buy a sex toy, then you’d have to go onto a site that was also selling porn.

"I don't think you can get much more mainstream than going to buy a

There were lots of places selling them, but everyone was doing a really horrible job because all the sites were aimed at men. It was all ‘by the way, we’ve got some sex toys as well, if you want some’ kind of thing”. Having attended a consumer event in London called ‘Erotica’, Neal and Richard were shocked by what they were witnessing “The thing that really hit us was that it was full of couples.

and it was couples who were clearly having a lot of fun”.

Lightbulb moment

After a change of perspective, the ideas started to arrive. “That event was our light bulb moment and we thought ‘OK, all we have to do is create a website that has really good customer service, explains what the products are for, how to use them, and what the benefits can be for your sex life.

It seemed like an obvious thing to do, but no one else was doing it. There was no basic information, no customer service guarantees, and you’d have to wade through a load of porn to get there in the first place”. With the revelation in place, all which was needed was a name. “I came up with the name Lovehoney, because we wanted something else that wasn’t called adult365xxx.com”.

Idea Factory

Starting the business in his forties, Neal explains the candidness of Lovehoney throughout its early stages. “We needed something we could market that sounded bit flirtatious, but not rude. We bought a load of products. We didn’t know anything about them. We had to sit down and work out how they worked, what they were for, what you’re supposed to do with them.

So, we wrote all the product descriptions ourselves.

We had to take photographs of everything ourselves, too. Other websites had pictures of the boxes and we couldn’t put the boxes on the website, because that half of them were with semi naked women all over them. The whole thing seemed bizarre because there were vibrators which are 99% used by women, with pictures of naked women on the packaging, which seemed ludicrous. We just thought, ‘OK, well, we’ll able to do really good customer service, which will explain what the products are for, they’ll be super discreet and there’ll be no porn on the website. We tried to make it humorous too because, afterall sex is funny”.

Flying Start

With Lovehoney coming on leaps and bounds, it seemed natural to keep experimenting with the variety of products. “When we started, we had this rule about what we were going to sell and how far we were going to go with it, because some of the stuff for us, (divorced, middle-aged men) seemed a bit a bit ‘out there’. Initially, we kept the non-scary looking vibrators and dildos but then we’d start getting emails from customers saying ‘Oh, I really want to buy this, or I really want to shop with you, but you don’t stock this product over on this website’. Ultimately, we ended up stocking everything and the rule in our heads was that we

weren’t going to stock anything that our girlfriends wouldn’t be comfortable with. But that rule soon went out the window and you know, who are we to judge?”.

Lovehoney Official

Two years later and Lovehoney were officially designing their own toys based on their customers reviews “We used our customers to help us develop products sort of indirectly, and then over the course of the next ten to fifteen years, we got to the point where 80% of what we sold was stuff that we actually manufactured, that included lingerie, bondage gear and all the rest of it”.

Despite this newly achieved milestone, the stigma surrounding female sex toys was still circulating. It seemed like the taboo of the subject was still in play. “When we started the business, and you went into Boots to the bit where they had condoms, the running theme was safety and fear. There would be condoms, pregnancy tests and KY Jelly and that would be about it. There was nothing that screamed ‘fun’”.

End The Stigma

Thanks to Lovehoney, Neal has extinguished the stigma. “I don’t think it is a taboo anymore. The question is more about which toy have you got instead not having one. It’s taken as a given, certainly in younger demographics. Now you can go to Boots, ASOS and Boohoo and they’ve all got sex toys. Most of them have got our sex toys, which is good. The focus is much more on pleasure and having fun, I don’t think you can get much more mainstream than going to buy a sex toy at Tesco”.

Breaking The Taboo

Starring in the movie trilogy Fifty Shades of Grey also helped break down the taboo. “We supplied a load of the toys and bondage gear that they put in the red room in the movie, and then we did an official Fifty Shades of Grey range of toys with the author of the book. It was all fantastic PR, and we were able to get that range into mainstream retailers like Target in the US. It was big from a sales point of view, but it was also good for mainstreaming Lovehoney as a brand, and becoming a go-to licencing partner. It was a win for everyone really”. As the brand was developing, its popularity was expanding. “We were the first people to take the idea that sex toys are good for you. Look at all the fun you could be having, you’re missing out if you’re not having more fun in the bedroom with these toys. By the time people started copying us, we were developing our own products”.

Best to Buy

There are so many toys to choose from to spice up your sexual wellness, but the vibrator never seems to disappoint. “We always used to sell a tonne of Rabbit vibrators, they were always the most popular thing. We also sell a lot of lingerie and bondage gear, it’s a mixture of everything. It’s more what I would call the ‘lighter’ end of our products like furry handcuffs,but most people are just fine with vibrating penis rings”.

More than a Business

After selling a majority stake to private equity in 2019 and building the revenue to £110 million, Neal and Richard believed enough was enough. “We had about five hundred employees, and it all just got a bit much, so we stopped. We had a brilliant time. Not only did we make a tonne of money and create a successful business, but I also had the best time of my life. I mean; it was just an absolute riot”.

Having created the femaleorientated business as two men, Neal and Richard left their business in trusting hands who would continue to develop the brand’s identity. “When we left, we made sure the CEO was a woman, the chief product director was a woman, the finance officer was a woman, the marketing officer was a woman. We weren’t necessarily the best people to be ambassadors for our business. We would tend to do a lot of the press and PR in the business end of stuff. But all the consumer stuff, was always female fronting”.

The Last Chapter

“I thought I might miss it, but I don’t. We did it for nearly 20 years and had an amazing time. I haven’t felt the urge to go and create another business. I kind of figured that I’ll get bored and wake up one day and go ‘Right let’s do something’ but it hasn’t happened, not yet... ”

BEYOND THE SCREEN

Navigating the Divide Between Pornography and Real life Intimacy

Hindustry influence a generation?

In March 2024 PornHub.com was visited 11.05 billion times. With the evolution of the internet, pornography is not only getting more graphic but also easier to access.

The evolution of porn

From ‘lads mags’ to leaked tapes, there seemed to be no limit to the distribution and innovation of ideas within the porn industry. As accessibility to the internet grew, it rapidly sparked the increased consumption of pornographic videos. In 2008, only 1% of people watched porn on a mobile device, compared to 2018, in which PornHub received 33.5billion visits.

of 15. Fifteen percent, admitted to encountering pornography before the age of nine.

Although the introduction to porn seems to start at an early age, it appears that older generations are revelling in the new advances in accessibility. PornHub summarises their yearly visitor demographics amongst other insights. This review found the average age of a site viewer was 37.

unsettling stats found was, that 79% of people encountered violent pornography before the age of 18. The normalisation of aggressive sexual habits such as choking, spanking and name-calling has bled from the pornographic world into real sex lives. The problem is growing, and no one can find a plaster big enough.

Porn Vs Reality

"

79% of people encountered violent pornography before the age of 18"

The Children’s Commissioner for England conducted research specific to pornography and the impact it has on young people. The results were not necessarily unexpected, but unsettling. Forty-seven percent of 16–21-yearolds stated that girls ‘expect’ sex to involve physical aggression, including things such as airway restriction and slapping.

Who is watching?

The early exposure of porn to young people is alarming. A survey conducted uncovered that 75% of respondents stated they had watched porn by the age

What are they watching?

What people are watching is a fascination among researchers looking into this concealed industry. After gathering statistics, it is notable that one of the most

A further 42% stated that most girls ‘enjoy’ acts of sexual aggression. The epidemic of ‘appealing’ rough sex has skyrocketed. Currently between 250-1,000 people die each year from autoerotic asphyxiation

Accessibility

Porn websites aren’t the sole culprit for the integration of pornography into our lives. Social media such as Twitter have accounts dedicated to sharing free pornography videos. Business Insider found that 13% of all Twitter posts are considered now not safe for work content.

Platforms like Only Fans have gained popularity and sex workers are slowly being embraced by our modern society. As we develop into a more sexual society, it’s difficult to understand why there is still such a stigma and silence around our sex lives.

Subversion of reality

There is an evident disconnect from the perception of real sex lives to the porn being watched. In Pornhub’s 2023 insights, the most searched genre was ‘Hentai.’ Hentai is a style of Japanese pornographic anime; this only highlights that people are growing further away from the reality of sex. This would be less concerning if there wasn’t a link between the application of things seen in porn to real-life sexual situations.

A survey of 2,500 university students found that 40% of participants had turned to porn to learn more about sex as a result of lacking sex education.

There has also been an increase in the use of VR when watching porn. For such an intimate interaction virtual reality is a controversial choice.

"250-1,000 people die each year from being choked during sex"

Real life sex

Your sexual preference is your choice. Having conversations with your sexual partner can make sex more enjoyable, it’s important to talk about boundaries so that you feel safe during sex.

The Botched Truth Behind Plastic Surgery

Investigating the taboo of cosmetic procedures and the stark reality of surgical beauty

Plastic surgery is one of the biggest medical markets in the world, estimated at $112 billion worldwide. It has become the norm to get these procedures done, however the reality of them is botched.

Growing up with celebrities who have the most perfect figure and symmetrical face was always hard for me. I remember looking in a mirror and wanting to change everything about myself. When these celebrities used to be interviewed, they were almost always asked if they had received plastic surgery to look the way that they did. As a viewer, you could see the whole demeanour of the celebrity shift. They went into a state of panic and embarrassment, denying that they had any cosmetic surgery done – even though they obviously had.

"

ing and, in some cases, dangerous. Even though the idea of cosmetic surgery has become a lot more talked about, the reality of them is not. This has sparked people who have had ‘work done’ to be secretive about the reality. Here at Flawed, we want to be transparent and honest- plastic surgery can be empowering. With the correct information, being ‘under-the-knife’ can be safe but it is worth understanding the risks.

a quick and effective solution to stained, chipped, misshapen, or crooked teeth. Veneers are a cosmetic treatment. A precise shade of porcelain can be chosen to give the right colour to improve a single discoloured tooth or to lighten your front teeth.” Bupa Dental Group.

The term ‘Turkey Teeth’ is associated with this procedure. as it is commonly done in Turkey because of the cost being lower. Because this surgery is becoming more normalised, the reality of it is becoming distorted into glamour.

IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE, MORE THAN 4 MILLION

COSMETIC SURGERY

PROCEDURES HAD BEEN

Why do we still live in a world where admitting to plastic surgery is a taboo?

Reportedly, it has been estimated that in the United States alone, more than 4 million cosmetic surgery procedures were been performed in 2022. However, only 10% would admit to having any type of cosmetic surgery, if asked. Why is this? The stark reality of surgical procedures can be daunt-

Veneers

Veneers have become one of the most commonly spoken about plastic surgery. Veneers have a distinct look; therefore, they are easily recognised. “Veneers are the process of a thin moulding, custom-made from porcelain, which is bonded to the front surface of a tooth. They are

An anonomous source tells us: “I regret it. When I got it done, I thought it would be a quick process and then my teeth right down to the nerves into a ‘shark

Liposuction

In today’s world, we embrace diversity but there’s still this obsession with having a “perfect” body shape. People are still chasing after the hourglass figure trend like it’s the holy grail of beauty; even though we’ve come a long way in accepting different shapes and sizes. It’s still so popular that some people are willing to pay for it.

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure used to remove unwanted body fat. It involves sucking out small areas of fat that are hard to lose through exercise and a healthy diet. It’s carried out on areas of the body where deposits of fat tend to collect, such as the bottom, hips, thighs, and tummy.

The aim is to alter body shape, and the results are generally long-lasting, providing you maintain a healthy weight.” NHS. Although the NHS do offer this surgery to treat some health conditions (Lymphoedema and Lipoedema) it is most commonly used cosmetically to alter someone’s body type to their desired shape.

What nobody will tell you about Liposuction is that even though you will expect to see a huge transformation after the surgery, ww

it can take several weeks or even months for the swelling to go down. You could even gain weight after the surgery. This is due to fluid accumulation. To maintain the transformation this surgery will eventually give you, you have to sustain a strict diet. This is because even though the removed fat cells during Liposuction cannot grow back, they can appear in new places.

Brazilian Butt Lift

Another new trend, which is seen to have impacted celebrities, is a Brazilian Butt Lift. This is due to the fact that 2024’s hottest trend is having a small waist and bigger hips (hourglass figure) and a BBL can help to maintain this.

"65% of people said that they regretted getting their plastic surgery."

It is suspected that members of the Kardashian family have undergone this procedure; making it one of the most desired cosmetic procedures. However, even though it may look attractive, the reality of it can be quite the opposite.

“A surgical fat transfer to move fat from one part of the body to another. It’s also known as a ‘fat graft’ or ‘lipomodelling’. The aim is to remove unwanted fat from an area of the body, such as the tummy or thighs, and use it to smooth or increase the size of another area, such as the breasts or bottom. A surgical fat transfer involving the bottom is often known as a Brazilian butt lift.” NHS.

The side effects of this surgical procedure can be brutal. A primary discomfort some may experience is pain. This is inevitable however, as this procedure includes fat harvesting, the harvest sites will also be sore. In some cases, patients can experience significant skin change (dimpling and irregularities) from the fat grafting process. Furthermore, fat embolism is a possible complication some may experience. This is when fat cells enter a person’s bloodstream, blocking vessels and causing further complications.

Because of just how normalised the idea of plastic surgery has become; people rush into these decisions. These procedures aren’t seen as life-changing and permanent. A recent study by the Medical Accident Group found that 65% of people said that they regretted getting their plastic surgery. They said that this was due to the lack of education which they had, therefore they rushed into them. Most people are willing to risk plastic surgery in order to conform to society’s everchanging standards, but when is it time to shout, “enough is enough?”

When did you

say

F*ck it?

Millie, 19

I’d say it was when I got into my relationship about two months in, we dealt with loads of comments like “You won’t last“, “He could do better“ and I was trying to please everyone so they’d stop saying it. Then I just got to a point where I was like f*ck it. If I’m happy, why am I trying to please everyone and change to meet people’s standards? I’m living my best life! I was around 18 at the time so I do think you have to go through your younger insecurities to reach a point where something or someone makes you realise, you’re perfect how you are and f*ck what opinions other people have, just do you!

Olive, 58

When I was 20 and was working in an Irish gift shop, an elderly woman asked me what I wanted to do when I left secondary school. I said nursing, but the nursing schools had closed, and I was too old to try again. Most people train at 18 and Ireland in the 80’s was a difficult place to find permanent work. She told me if I really wanted to do it I would find a way. She told me our friend had left the country to train in England. I said it wasn't possible, she said just ask some questions, so I thought f**k it. I really wanted to be a nurse. I may as well take a chance, the pay wasn't great, but neither was what I was doing at the time. So, I got the application forms and applied, and the rest is history!

Flaws: They're what unite us

It can be hard to free yourself from society’s taboos... but it’s not impossible. Three Flawed women share the moment they officially pressed their ‘F*ck it’ button

Kate, 52

So, F*ck It Button. I often go out without make-up these days and my grey hair. I don’t care what people think, say or react. It’s my decision to look how I want or feel on the day. I get asked to go out quite a lot, but these days menopause feelings create a lot of f*ck it scenarios where I can’t be arsed or just don’t feel like going. So, I hit the f*ck it button again! But then if I do feel like going out, I’ll wear something funky, or a bit short or sequins and have another f*ck it button situation. I don’t care what people think cos I feel good!!