My journey with vulva anxiety began in high school, like so many insecurities do. I was sitting in math class when a boy tapped me on the shoulder and passed me a note. When I opened it, I saw the question, “Do you have an innie or an outie?”
Outie? And no, he wasn’t talking about my belly button. At age 13, I had never seen another vulva and had no idea where I stood on the vulva spectrum. This was the beginning of my vulva anxiety, a feeling that only intensified as I grew older. Words like “kebab,” “upside-down volcano,” and “octapussy” echoed through the schoolyard, deepening my insecurities.
Seeing a specialist
By 19, I was seriously considering labiaplasty—a surgical procedure that alters the labia minora and/or labia majora and is currently the fastest-growing cosmetic surgery in Australia. I booked consultations with prominent surgeons in Sydney, but neither took the time to examine my vulva before suggesting surgery. There was no discussion about my reasons, no consideration of therapy or alternative ways to manage my body insecurities.
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Despite these red flags, I still contemplated the procedure. A year later, I moved to India and saw it as the perfect opportunity to undergo surgery discreetly. During my third consultation, I was so anxious and still without the words to describe my anatomy that I mistakenly asked for liposuction on my labia, pointing to my crotch. The surgeon, who was the first to take the time to examine me, asked, “Ellie, Madam, have you ever seen another vulva?”
He then explained that what I thought needed to be cut off, was a completely normal vulva. He told me to go home and research what vulvas actually look like. Ironically, he suggested I would be better off spending the money on a chin implant as more people see your face than your labia!
A moment that changed the course
This experience changed my life and led me to found Comfortable In My Skin in 2018, a movement aimed at empowering vulva owners to love their labias. I vowed to photograph 500 vulvas to showcase the stunning diversity that exists outside of media portrayals and pornography. After seven years of photographing women across Australia, London, and New York, I’ve achieved my goal and published the collection of images and stories in my new book, Flip Through My Flaps. My hope is that it will highlight the beauty and uniqueness of every vulva and shift the narrative from secrecy and taboo to openness and acceptance.
This resource is needed now more than ever with nearly a quarter of women aged 18-25 report feeling anxious or embarrassed about their labia’s appearance, according to a recent report from Women’s Health Victoria. This shame is driving the growth of labiaplasty with the surgery now the fastest growing in Australia as women seek out the so-called ‘Barbie vagina’ aesthetic.
What I’ve learned
From my experience photographing hundreds of vulvas, I’ve seen firsthand that more than half of those with vulvas have visible or protruding labia minora, and many have asymmetrical labia. There is so much beautiful vulva diversity that exists in our underpants that needs to be made available to women so we can stop those undergoing unnecessary and potentially damaging surgery. It’s a misconception that the labia plays no function – it’s actually an incredibly important body part that is full of nerve endings that play an important role in sex. By snipping off your labia for cosmetics reasons, you’re potentially impacting your pleasure!
The rise in labiaplasty underscores the need for greater education and acceptance. By sharing our story, we can challenge harmful norms and encourage women to embrace their bodies as they are. My journey has taught me that self-acceptance is far more empowering than any cosmetic procedure.
To anyone struggling with similar insecurities, know that you are not alone. There is beauty in our differences and celebrating that can be the most powerful act of self-love.
Ellie Sedgwick, also known as the Vulva Photographer, is the founder of Comfortable In My Skin and a leading advocate for female empowerment and self-love. Her latest project, Flip Through My Flaps, features 500 unique vulvas, celebrating their diversity and challenging unrealistic beauty standards. To learn more about Ellie’s mission and join the movement, visit: Comfortable In My Skin.
