SCARS BY
FLAMINIA
REPOSI
Flaminia Reposi is an Italian professional studio photographer living in Paris.
She created a project called Scars where she shoots portraits of women and focused images of scars on their bodies. I had the chance to be informed about the initiative by a close friend of mine, Alessandra Venier, to take part of the project and have my pictures being taken. It was a truly emotional experience for the models, photographers and makeup artists who all had the chance to assist the processes while hearing the stories behind every scar.
It allowed us to connect on a deeper level. It also differed from photoshoots that might at time appear to be void of any further purpose besides appearing physically appealing for marketing matters. Reposi decided to adorn each scars with colorful glitters matching our facial makeup in order to demonstrate the beauty behind everyone's experience.
Flaminia herself had a scar on her foot, due to a birth defect called “clubfoot”, which causes her feet to be rotated inwards and downwards. She initiated the project in order to celebrate aspects of ourselves that we tend to hide due to their unconventionality. Unconventionalities that come against society's obsession with perfection.
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On the day of my photo shoot in Paris, I met another one of the model as we were both being photographed on the same day. She was a Leukemia survivor. Her scar represented the numerous surgeries she had had gone through. I shed a few tears at the realization of how strong she was, how strong we all were.
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For my parts, my scars are three little stitches located on the upper part of my spine, hiding metal bars that help me stand tall everyday. I had a spinal surgery at the age of 17 (I dare you to type it on YouTube for those not faint at heart). These scars are part of my everyday and of who I am, I do not conceal them nor do I necessarily talk about them.
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At times our brain intentionally forgets painful experiences. Experiences that allowed us to become who we really are once the facade comes of. We are reminded that they will always remain within us as they resurface in very subtle and unexpected ways.
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I am truly happy to have had the opportunity to take part in such a beautiful initiative and to this day I recommend anyone with a story to share to get in contact with Flaminia Reposi. https://www.flaminiareposi.com/

Flaminia Reposi, Paris 2018
MUA : Marion Chedru
Assistant : Santana Petchsuk

There’s something I’ve been trying to hide all my life, but the time has come for me to finally celebrate it.
I was born with a birth defect called “clubfoot”, which means that at birth, my feet were rotated inwards and downwards.
23 years ago medicine and science weren’t as developed as today, and I was unable to get the appropriate treatment. I went through over seven surgeries and a skin necrosis due to a “bad” cast that caused an infection and almost made me loose my feet. I've been hiding this about me - ashamed by all the scars and malformations that I have.
Someone once said: “scars are just another kind of memory” and I could not agree more. I now want to celebrate my little “Imperfections”, as well as other people's, by turning them into something beautiful. A scar tells a story, it is part of who we truly are as a person. This is what my project is about; a celebration of these elements that we often want to conceal - especially growing up as a girl. It is only the beginning - but I hope you enjoy it, as it is very dear to me. In 2017, 1 child out of 1000 still comes to life with clubfeet and doesn't receive appropriate treatment. Check out the website of thePonseti Method:
http://www.ponseti.info, or my amazing Doctor Ana Ey Battle's website:
http://www.annaey.com in order to raise awareness!

Julia Zahar , Paris 2017
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MUA : Apolline Baroux
Assistant : Patrick Sambiasi

Photography : Flaminia Reposi


Saraah Bikaï, Paris 2018
MUA : Marion Chedru
Assistant : Apolline Baroux
Photography : Flaminia Reposi


Pauline Mancini, Paris 2018
MUA : Marion Chedru
Assistant : Santana Petchsuk
Photography : Flaminia Reposi


"Insomnie, fatigue, chute de cheveux, esprit confus, extrême irritabilité... ce sont les aléas des problèmes de Thyroïde. Souvent il s’agit d’une maladie de Basedow (maladie auto-immune), et parfois lorsque le traitement est un échec on envisage l’ablation de la thyroïde.
En 2014, j’ai du me la faire totalement enlever.
« On verra rien, la cicatrice sera dans un pli de ton cou » disaient les médecins.
Timide et cachée par un pansement pendant quelques semaines, affirmée par la suite, ma cicatrice a suscité plusieurs réactions: de l’intrigue à la peur en passant par la gêne, on me demandait souvent ce qui avait pu bien m’arriver. Aujourd’hui j’ai appris à l’accepter, et a ne plus y prêter attention, parfois même je l’oublie: comme un grain de beauté ou la fossette d’un sourire."
Marianne Rinaldi , Paris 2017
MUA : Apolline Baroux
Assistant : Patrick Sambiasi
Photography :Flaminia Reposi

