Ellie Sedgwick’s Mission to End Vulva Shame

Ellie Sedgwick’s Mission to End Vulva Shame

Ellie Sedgwick is redefining what it means to feel comfortable in your own skin. From battling vulva anxiety to founding Comfortable In My Skin, her journey is one of resilience, empowerment, and radical self-love. And we're so here for it.

 

Name: Ellie Sedgwick
Pronouns: she/her
Day job: Founder of Comfortable In My Skin
Location: Find me all around Australia travelling on my bus, the Pussy Palace

 

Describe your work in one sentence.

I empower people to embrace and celebrate their bodies, dismantling shame through vulva photography and open conversation.

 

And the larger journey? How did you land where you are today?

My journey began with my struggles with body image, specifically around vulva anxiety. For years, I struggled with shame and self-doubt. When I started photographing women’s bodies, I realised how many others shared these same insecurities. This journey and my healing process drove me to create Comfortable In My Skin, a platform and movement dedicated to empowering women to accept and love their bodies entirely.

 

Can you share more about Comfortable In My Skin?

It was born from the desire to create a resource to raise awareness of vulva diversity. I had experienced vulva anxiety since I was a teenager, and it had intensified to the point where I was exploring labiaplasty surgery. I went so far as to book two consultations and had two surgeons tell me they could operate without as much as looking at my vulva. Ultimately, my third consultation in India, where I was working at the time, saved me from undergoing unnecessary labiaplasty and led me on this path.

When I showed this doctor my vulva, he informed me that what I wanted surgically altered was completely ‘normal’. He sent me away with the homework to research what real, unedited vulvas look like. I thought to myself, “If only there were a book of vulvas I could buy to help me.” Inspired by this experience and years of suffering in silence with my body insecurities, I announced on Facebook in 2018 that I was creating a coffee table book of vulva photographs. I started hosting photoshoots, which grew into workshops and became a bigger movement today, known as Comfortable In My Skin.

 

Sounds like finding acceptance was a journey - can you share more about it?

Apart from my vulva, I grew up feeling confident and comfortable with myself and my body. I had a loving family and a beautiful, big social life. Sadly, as I grew older, my vulva shame grew too. Then, when I started having sexual relationships, more comments were made that made me spiral further. Through my work at Comfortable In My Skin, I’ve been able to help so many people with their body insecurities, which has helped me heal my own. Today, I know that there is no “perfect” vulva, only the one that belongs to you. 

SCARLET BLOG | Interview with Ellie Sedgwick

What key moments sparked your mission to help women embrace their bodies?

In the early days, I started photographing women individually. These evolved into group shoots, and that’s when I saw the true power of my work and the ability for women to help each other navigate their biggest insecurities through open conversation. Through these group workshops, I saw women reveal secrets they had never told anyone in their lives, from being diagnosed with herpes to insecurities they had about their labia. Often, when they shared these experiences, someone else in the group would have a similar experience and instantly, the shame was shattered as they realised they were not alone.

 

What impact do you hope the project has?

The aim is to celebrate body diversity and tackle the stigmas around women’s health. We want our audience to feel empowered, seen, and encouraged to embrace their bodies and as they are. By sharing real stories and images, we hope to normalise the diverse beauty of all bodies and break down taboos around women’s health that are often shamed into silence.

 

How have societal views on body image changed since you started?

There’s been a shift toward body positivity and inclusivity, but there’s still a long way to go. While social media has helped amplify diverse voices, it has also fueled unrealistic beauty standards. We’re in a better place than we were holistically, but there's still work to be done to achieve true body acceptance.

 

How has the response been, and are there any memorable interactions?

The response from the community has been incredible, and I have met so many beautiful, kind people who follow my work. After years of advocating for vulva love, I know a huge amount of women who cancelled their labiaplasty surgeries after discovering Comfortable In My Skin and that makes it all worth it.

 

What inspired you to create your new book, Flip Through My Flaps?

When I started photography for Flip Through My Flaps: An Exploration of the Vulva, I was driven largely by my personal experience. Today, it’s no longer just a personal issue; it’s become a public health crisis. One in six Australians are anxious or embarrassed about the way their labia looks, according to a study from Women’s Health Victoria. Sadly, this issue is even more pronounced with Gen Z, with one in four people aged 18-24 facing vulva anxiety, and almost a third associating their labia with negative words such as ‘weird’, ‘disgusting’ or ‘ugly’. This underscores the need for greater education and acceptance, which is why Flip Through My Flaps is needed now more than ever.

SCARLET BLOG | Interview with Ellie Sedgwick

What can readers expect from the book?

Readers can expect a bold, unapologetic celebration of vulvas in all their forms, with more than 500 photographs accompanied by raw reflections and personal stories. I think many readers are expecting to see vulvas, but what they might not expect is the power of the stories in the book. Some are beautiful, covering motherhood and love, while others are painful, touching on herpes diagnoses, heartbreak, and miscarriage. All show the true strength of women.

 

How do you hope the book will help women and young people appreciate their bodies?

By showing real, unedited images, I want readers to realise that there’s no “normal”—our bodies are all different, and that’s something to embrace.

 

What role has your menstrual health played in your journey?

As someone with both endometriosis and PCOS, I have experienced the gap in knowledge around women’s health, specifically menstrual health. There is still so much stigma around our periods and a lack of information about common conditions, such as PCOS and endometriosis, which are topics that come up time and time again in the book. I’d love to see more open, positive conversations around menstrual health and will continue to give that conversation a platform.

 

How do you practice self-care when you don’t feel comfortable in your skin?

There are a few things that ground me and connect me back to my self-love. The number one thing is water: I love baths and being in the ocean. I also love meditation and constantly listen to different types of meditation on Spotify. Lastly, I’m obsessed with essential oils. They help me connect to myself and my breath.

 

If you had the attention of all women for a few minutes, what’s your top health message?

If I can leave anyone with a single message, it’s that every vulva is unique. Our bodies don’t need to conform to a single standard to be worthy of love and acceptance. You are you, and that’s what is beautiful.

 

MY CYCLE

  • My period in 3-words: Irregular, ceremonious, and educational.
  • Period self-care toolkit: Baths and essential oils, always!
  • Best period hacks: Understanding your cycle is the best period hack ever. And period undies.
  • Contraception of choice: Cycle tracking.
  • On day 1 you can find me: In the bath!
  • Scarlet pick: rae Heat Pad