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This 26-year-old model is shattering society’s idea of perfection, and why that’s important

At 10, Sara Geurts was diagnosed with a rare skin disorder which affects the body's ability to process collagen, making her look older than she is.

Age is just a number they say, but it only takes that first wrinkle to break out when people start worrying about ageing. Especially for models, where your appearance is of utmost importance, just one tiny wrinkle or even smile lines are dreadful nightmares. And despite all the night creams and injections, there’s no fighting the inevitability of age. Model Sara Geurts realised this at a very young age.

When she was 10, Sara Geurts was diagnosed with Dermatosparaxis Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a rare skin disorder which affects the body’s ability to structure and process collagen. Owing to her rare condition, Sara’s skin turned soft and fragile and started to sag, making her look a lot older than she really is.

When she was in high school, Sara tried to hide her body from the world and she wanted to fit into society’s perception of “perfection.” It wasn’t until she was 22-23 that she realised, it was her imperfections and her uniqueness that make her who she is.

Sara Guerts in high school (left) and as a model now (right)

“My skin was my biggest insecurity,” she says. “But now I think it’s the most beautiful thing ever. Each imperfection you have is individual to you, and it tells a story about you and who you are, and the struggle and the journey that you have been on.”

“It is your imperfections and your uniqueness that is the true beauty and that’s what needs to be celebrated.”

 

“Your going to meet people who are intimidated by you. You’re different. People don’t know how to react or how to accept someone who doesn’t follow the crowd… They are not used to somone who doesn’t try to fit in — So instead of bolstering your uniqueness, they’ll try and make you feel like you’re weird or damaged. I’m here to offer some well earned advice : Screw them.”#week #thursday #tbt #throwback #latergram #instaphoto #sorrynotsorry #victoriassecret #qotd #ehlersdanlosawareness #ehlersdanlossyndrome #effyourbeautystandards #inmyskiniwin #mybeautymyway #loveyourbody #loveyourlines #selflove #nowrongway #beyou #bebeautiful #perfectlyimperfect #blessed #inspire #embrace #happy #vibes #model #wlyg #weloveyourgenes

A post shared by Sara Geurts (@sarageurts) on

Sara Geurts says that her decision to step into modelling was to raise awareness for EDS and to alter the definition of beauty standards. “My main aspirations for modelling would be to break society’s standards and the mentality that they have for perfection,” she says.

With the last week of summer approachingg I thought this TBT was suitableee.. haaappppyyy thursday from the chubbs of asian babes..i hope everyone’s summer was one filled with joy and great memories. if onlyyy my suit was yellow polka dots #asian #asianbaby #chubbs #rollsonrolls #ehlersdanlos #summertime #tbt

A post shared by Sara Geurts (@sarageurts) on

Now, she has completely embraced her uniqueness and motivates others to do so as well. Check out some of her photos below:

Happy 4th to all! #week #tuesday #photoshoot #photograpy #instaphoto #aaclassics #AAmodel #merica #4thofjuly #happy4th #ehlersdanlosawareness #ehlersdanlossyndrome #effyourbeautystandards #inmyskiniwin #mybeautymyway #loveyourbody #loveyourlines #selflove #nowrongway #beyou #bebeautiful #perfectlyimperfect #blessed #inspire #embrace #happy #vibes #model #wlyg #weloveyourgenes

A post shared by Sara Geurts (@sarageurts) on

“I didn’t come this far to only come this far.” #week #monday #motivation #quote #latergram #latepost #photoshoot #photograpy #ehlersdanlosawareness #ehlersdanlossyndrome #effyourbeautystandards #inmyskiniwin #mybeautymyway #loveyourbody #loveyourlines #selflove #beyou #bebeautiful #blessed #inspire #embrace #happy #sorrynotsorry #nowrongway #bodypositive #bodypositivity #model #unsigned #wlyg #weloveyourgenes

A post shared by Sara Geurts (@sarageurts) on

New faces, I see you.. Welcome to my life. #week #thursday #tbt #throwback #latergram #latepost #hm #lingerie #victoriassecret #ehlersdanlosawareness #ehlersdanlossyndrome #effyourbeautystandards #inmyskiniwin #mybeautymyway #loveyourbody #loveyourlines #selflove #nowrongway #beyou #bebeautiful #blessed #inspire #embrace #happy #beauty #real #model #wlyg #weloveyourgenes

A post shared by Sara Geurts (@sarageurts) on

Shadows. #weekend #photoshoot #latepost #latergram #aaclassics #jewelry #barcrofttv #feature #life #ehlersdanlosawareness #ehlersdanlossyndrome #effyourbeautystandards #effthelabels #inmyskiniwin #mybeautymyway #beautyisnotgeneric #loveyourbody #loveyourlines #selflove #nowrongway #beyou #bebeautiful #blessed #inspire #embrace #beauty #real #model #wlyg #weloveyourgenes

A post shared by Sara Geurts (@sarageurts) on

If i gotta go hard on a bitch I’ma make it look sexy. I pull up, hop out, air out, made it look sexy. They won’t take me out my element. Nah, take me out my element.” #photoshoot #throwback #lingerie #latergram #victoriassecret #makeup #kendricklamar #damn #element #lyrics #100 #real #sorrynotsorry #vibes #ehlersdanlosawareness #ehlersdanlossyndrome #effyourbeautystandards #inmyskiniwin #mybeautymyway #loveyourbody #loveyourlines #selflove #nowrongway #blessed #beyou #bebeautiful #model #unsigned #wlyg #weloveyourgenes

A post shared by Sara Geurts (@sarageurts) on

Wheen your sickk all week so you basically go through all your photos and edit them.. #weekend #photoshoot #latergram #lingerie #hm #life #vibes #nights #ehlersdanlosawareness #ehlersdanlossyndrome #effyourbeautystandards #inmyskiniwin #loveyourbody #loveyourlines #selflove #nowrongway #beyou #bebeautiful #blessed #happy #embrace #real #woman #natural #beauty #sorrynotsorry #model #wlyg #weloveyourgenes #love

A post shared by Sara Geurts (@sarageurts) on

If this doesn’t make you stop obsessing over society’s ideas about what comprising ‘perfect’ or ‘acceptable’ beauty standards, then nothing will.

Story source: BoredPanda

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