Mel
The Story
Mel is a designer who is using her voice and art to spread domestic abuse awareness.
When her abuser “cured her infertility” he slowly started taking control of her mind, body, and freedom.
This is her story.
The Portraits
Throughout her relationship with her abuser, she was silenced in every sense of the word.
He isolated her from her friends, manipulated and gaslit her to make her question her reality, took her bank cards and car, and would lock her away in the house with her newborn for days at a time. All for her “own protection”.
Now, years after she finally left, she uses her art to help educate survivors about abuse, and has become the person she needed when she was locked away.
She is an inspiration, and without any shadow of a doubt, has reclaimed the power of her voice.
This is the Mel 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.
Mel’s first portrait represents her journey from being controlled, manipulated, and trapped in her relationship and home, to finding the key to her freedom and ultimate happiness.
The second portrait represents her liberation from silence and transformation into the woman who uses her voice and art to dream up a new world for victims and survivors. A woman who has created a beautiful new life for herself and all the women her work reaches. A woman who will never be silenced again.
Inspired by Mel’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 Mel'’s story come to life:
Stephanie Goldfinger: Photography and Creative Direction
Roxy van der Post: Videography and Editing
My Lady Garden: Floral Design
Grace Hatcher: Hair and Makeup
Daria Szotek: Behind the Scenes Photography
Natalia Kaluza: Production Assistance and Marketing
Coffee by Grind