Twelve year old Bronwyn hates her appearance so much she is unable to lead a normal life. Bronwyn cries daily about the way she looks. She began by feeling self conscious about a small birthmark on her arm but now she is convinced that she is ugly. She now obsesses that she has a hairy back and arms, and although there's nothing unusual about her appearance, that Mum has resorted to letting use hair removal cream on her back and arms so before she'll wear short sleeves or take part in swimming lessons.
Bronwyn would love to look like her idol Cheryl Cole 'because she's so beautiful' Bronwyn says 'there are so many beautiful girls on TV and in magazines I just want to be one of them'. Bronwyn spends hours looking a celebrity magazines and comparing herself unfavourably with the glossy images she sees. Asked to describe herself she says 'I'm stupid, ugly, small and feel different in a bad way'.
Mum and Dad have tried everything. They constantly reassure Bronwyn and have even allowed her to have a few small items of make up as this seems to make her happier. Despite this Bronwyn still takes up to two hours to get ready to go anywhere. And her unhappiness with her appearance remains. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirrorred side of the toaster is enough to reduce her to tears.
Bronwyn says 'I don't think I'd ever be able to look at myself in the mirror and think I'm beautiful, nope never.'
