Teresa
Disabled Veteran (PTSD, Agoraphobia, OCD, Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) Artist
PHOTOGRAPHER: Kelly Mahoney
How can you feel your beauty if you’ve never seen yourself? As a Disabled Veteran with PTSD, Agoraphobia, ADHD, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Migraines and other related conditions, they’ve made me feel ugly, worthless, and broken. I never actually agreed with anyone that said I was beautiful…until The Bold Beauty Project. Thousands and thousands of people were in Times Square during my photo shoot…talk about stressful! The Bold Beauty Project was an experience that challenged my self-perception in a big way.
Despite an overwhelming desire to run away to safety, I stood perfectly still amongst the onlookers during my photo session in Times Square, the “Crossroads of the World.” The knockout boots were provided by my amazing photographer, Kelly, and the scarf was provided by my producer, Patrice. They truly made me feel like a SHERO. I actually felt a little bump in confidence during the experience. A year prior to the photoshoot, I was struggling with my trauma therapist to go outside for a mere twenty minutes twice a week…and I almost never made it. Today, I’m proud to say that I am able to accomplish such a task. It certainly is not easy, but I am slowly making progress!
Thank you to the fearless clinicians from the New York Harbor Veterans Hospital and my husband, Mark, you all are helping to make me the new woman I’m becoming. I especially want to thank The Bold Beauty Project for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
