"I grew up as an only sister with 2 brothers, and we lived with our father. I had no aunties or grannies that I was very close to, and I was always too shy to talk about my vulva, and my body in general, with friends in school. I was part of the swimming team, and it always felt like girls were comparing and competing, rather than being supportive of each other. I'd always change in the toilet cubicle, as I was so ashamed of my 'huge' inner labia. I believed that there was something wrong; that they'd just kept on growing abnormally. I avoided close relationships with men, or sex with the lights on, until well into my varsity years, and seriously considered labiaplasty - I even went for an initial consult and the doctor was more than willing to tell me all the things that he'd be happy to chop off and change!
It was only recently in my late 20s, and through discovering body positivity accounts like this one, that I learned that my body is totally normal, and actually beautiful. The whole experience of having my vulva cast has been a huge step for me towards feeling confident in my own skin. I celebrate my vulva now, and don't mind having sex with the lights on."