A UNIQUE JustGiving crowdfunding appeal has been launched to support a photographic campaign that lets ordinary people embrace their bodies.

Behind the Scars, is a campaign that gives people a platform to embrace their bodies, their scars and the amazing stories that lie behind them.

Sophie Mayanne, a 24-year-old freelance photographer from Cirencester, has made it her mission to tell those stories in the revealing photo series and is now looking for further funds to expand the project.

Sophie has been working on the project since 2016, and over the last two years, it has grown into a major social media campaign centred around body positivity and self-acceptance.

Sophie says: “Every scar has a story and every one of the 300 people who have been included so far are all exceptional, unique and have their own special story to tell.

"They can be heart-wrenching, inspiring, brave, or a simple acceptance of who they are, but everyone will touch you personally.

“The momentum so far has been incredible and I want to push this project to new heights, and I can’t do this without your help.

"I am basically a one-woman band, just me and my camera, and my trusty little Pug, a very old Peugeot 206, both of which are clearly on their last legs!

“I give my own personal time to this project freely, but unfortunately studios are not so accommodating!

Each booking costs a minimum of £200 a shoot, so I am turning to fundraising to allow this project to continue to flourish.

“It started off as a small passion project where I photographed around 10 people, and since then I have photographed over 300.

"As it is such a diverse subject, I have now set a goal of photographing 1,000 people in total.

“The stories have travelled across the globe, helping many people feel more confident, and embracing the skin they are in.

"Particularly with the summer months dawning on us, I have had more messages than ever with people expressing the difference the project has made to them personally.

“At the moment I am looking at adding European shoot dates, and potentially further afield depending on how much I can raise.

"So, it is very much an on-going project, the more I can raise, the more people I can help!

"My ultimate aim is to create a book.

"A beautiful finished piece that will be able to offer encouragement to men, women and children of all ages around the world.”

All donations will be invested directly in to the project to support studio fees and new shoot dates in the UK and beyond.

To support the appeal, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sophiemayanne

To view Sophie’s Behind the Scars work go to instagram.com/sophiemayanne