Stella
The Story
Stella is an author who uses her voice to help raise awareness about domestic abuse through her own harrowing story.
After a childhood of abuse and neglect, Stella walked straight into the arms of a man who finally made her feel loved and looked after. What she didn’t see was that his care was masking a deeply controlling and abusive personality that would imprison her for 18 years with the help of his parents.
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, controlled her eating, sleeping, took over and manipulated her finances, made her question her sanity, and left her fighting for her life and her freedom.
Now, years after her brave escape from his control, she is a published author who uses her story to educate survivors about abuse, and has found love and strength in using the voice she lost.
She is a ray of light, and without any shadow of a doubt, has reclaimed the power of her voice.
This is the Stella 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.
Stella’s first portrait represents her journey from being financially controlled, manipulated, and in overwhelming debt, to finding her freedom in rebuilding a garden where there once was only ash.
The second portrait represents her liberation from her prison and transformation into the woman who now flies as free as a bird, using her brilliant inner light and hope to help victims and survivors everywhere. A woman who has created a beautiful new life for herself and who will never be locked away in silence again.
You can find her on Instagram at @stellasopenroadrtrip
Inspired by Stella’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 Stella’s story come to life:
Stephanie Goldfinger: Photography and Creative Direction
Roxy van der Post: Videography and Editing
Violeta Marozaite of Your London Florist : Floral Design
Lejla Dauti: Makeup
Daria Szotek: Behind the Scenes Photography
Natalia Kaluza: Production Assistance and Marketing
Loes van Gestel: Production Assistance
Shoreditch Nails: Manicure
Coffee by Blue Bear Coffee