Lejla
The Story
Lejla came to the UK as an asylum seeker from Kosovo, and after almost a decade of domestic abuse she is using her voice raising awareness for violence against women online.
Her series, Lejla Please Tell My Story, has reached millions of women around the world.
This is her story.
The Portraits
Throughout her relationship with her abuser, she was silenced in every sense of the word.
She was literally strangled as the first act of physical abuse from her ex.
But her voice was strangled long before, and long after, this incident.
Over a decade after she met her abuser, and 2 years after she finally left, there is no doubt to be had that Lejla has found her voice again.
This is the Lejla you see here.
We designed two portraits for each survivor in our campaign, a deeply personal pairing to illustrate her own unique journey from control and silence to freedom and voice.
Lejla’s first portrait represents the silencing of her voice during the period of her life when she was controlled, beaten, and a shell of her true self. Through manipulation, gaslighting, and the full spectrum of abuse tactics, he made her believe that she was to blame for everything and that her voice, her body, and her mind were worthless. No one knew what was happening behind closed doors. And because of the trauma bond, and the systems which are designed to keep victims silent, she stayed quiet for almost nine years.
The second portrait represents her liberation and transformation into the absolute queen she is today. A woman who rose from the ashes to find her voice again, and is using it to lead women around the world to find theirs. A woman filled with fire, a woman who will never be silenced again.
You can support Lejla’s work on Instagram @by.layx and her newly launched website, YouTube, and Facebook.
Inspired by Lejla’s Story?
We need your support to achieve our mission of helping more women like her to discover the power of their voice.
Your generous contribution will ensure we can keep fighting for survivors and women everywhere, and help give them the tools to tell their story in order to inspire lasting change in their community and around the world.
It’s time to shed the stigma, shame, and blame and change the story about domestic abuse.
It’s time to #HearHerRoar.
We are a registered UK Charity. Donate to our #HearHerRoar crowdfunder campaign or donate directly through our donorbox, whichever moves you!
Thank you to all the volunteers and donors who helped make Lejla’s story come to life:
Stephanie Goldfinger: Photography and Creative Direction
Roxy van der Post: Videography and Editing
Violeta Marozaite, Gaia Eros and Your London Florist: Floral Design
Maya Lewis: Hair and Makeup
Neda Kozel: Behind the Scenes Photography
Natalia Kaluza: Production Assistance and Marketing
Flowers donated by D.L. Flowers Wholesale UK
Coffee by Grind