In 2019, a volcano in New Zealand erupted. It happened on White Island, a place that’s also known as Whakaari. It ended up killing 22 people, including Stephanie Coral Browitt’s little sister. A month after the tragic event, their dad passed away from his own injuries. Many others sustained life-changing injuries.
This includes Stephanie who sustained burns on almost all of her body. She also lost eight fingers. For roughly three years, she had to wear a medical compression on her face and body to help her scars heal. So much has changed in the five years since the tragedy, but the reason why Stephanie shares her journey on social media remains the same: She wants to honor the memory of her family while promoting self-love and support for burn victims.
White Island Volcanic Eruption Survivor Promotes Self-Love
@stephaniecoral96 I think my skin is a testament to what I’ve been through, what I have survived, overcome & what I will continue to go through. I will never feel ashamed for the way that I look. ♥️ We all deserve to love our skin & feel comfortable & proud in our own bodies. #burns #burnssurvivor #survivor #whiteisland #eruptionsurvivor #volcanoeruptionsurvivor #volcanoeruption #recovery #life #trauma #whakaari #whakaarieruption #skin #proud #beautifulpeople ♬ back to the basics – ❀
For many of us, it can be so easy to get caught in worrying if we look “good enough.” Stephanie challenges societies unhealthy obsession with a narrow definition of beauty by taking pride in her skin grafts.
“My raw face at 27 with nothing but skin grafts after suffering horrific burns,” Stephanie shares in one of her videos.
![Stephanie Coral Browitt smiles softly for a selfie outside.](https://www.inspiremore.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/self-love.png)
In sharing her journey, Stephanie is helping other burn victims feel seen and understood. She’s also able to remind us all that no matter who we are, what we look like, or what we’ve been through, we are beautiful and deserve self-love.
“I think my skin is a testament to what I’ve been through, what I have survived, overcome & what I will continue to go through,” Stephanie continues in the caption of her video. “I will never feel ashamed for the way that I look. We all deserve to love our skin & feel comfortable & proud in our own bodies.”
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