As cliché as it may sound, scars are ways for us to tell our personal stories—whether from life-changing accidents that left lasting marks to those we were born with, each one has a significant way of speaking to one’s own experiences.
Previously kept hidden and airbrushed out, scars are now being embraced by the celebrity world, with the women (and men) of Hollywood not afraid to leave their marks front and centre.
Scroll down for the list of famous face who have embraced their scars with pride and the stories behind how they got them.
Princess Eugenie
When Princess Eugenie was 12 years old, she was diagnosed with scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and underwent life-changing surgery.
In 2018, the royal opened up about her health struggles in honour of International Scoliosis Awareness Day. “In 2002, when I was 12 years old, I was diagnosed with scoliosis (curvature of the spine), and told that I would need corrective surgery,” she wrote to Instagram. “This was, of course, a scary prospect for a 12-year-old; I can still vividly remember how nervous I felt in the days and weeks before the operation.”
For her 2018 Windsor wedding to longtime partner Jack Brooksbank, Eugenie wore a gown designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos which featured a low back to show off her scoliosis scar.
Selena Gomez
While Gomez admittedly used to be ashamed of her kidney transplant scar—which she got when undergoing a 2017 procedure to treat her lupus—she’s now more confident than ever.
Modelling for her friend’s swimwear line, La’Mariette, the singer shared a powerful message that all bodies are beautiful.
“When I got my kidney transplant, I remember it being very difficult at first showing my scar,” the actress wrote. “I didn’t want it to be in photos, so I wore things that would cover it up. Now, more than ever, I feel confident in who I am and what I went through… and I’m proud of that.”
Kate Middleton
While Kate Middleton is one of the most talked-about women in the world—with royal fans knowing everything from what she eats in a day to her favourite fashion brands—not many may know that the Duchess of Cambridge actually has a scar across her face.
The origins behind the mark, which sits on her left temple above the hairline, were revealed in 2011, with a palace spokesperson revealing it was the result of a childhood accident.
“The scar is related to a childhood operation,” the rep told E! News.
What procedure still remains a mystery.
Amy Schumer
When it comes to sharing the raw realities of life behind the camera, no one is more real or candid than Amy Schumer—especially where body image is concerned.
After giving birth to her first child, Gene, via c-section in May 2019, the comedian took to Instagram to share regular updates, including an image of her cesarean-section scar.
“I’m really sorry if I offended anyone with my hospital underwear,” she captioned. “Except I’m just kidding.”
Tina Fey
Tina Fey finally revealed the reason behind the scar on her face when she released her book, Bossypants, detailing how when she was just five, she was violently assaulted by a man with a knife. The man has never been found.
“During the spring semester of kindergarten, I was slashed in the face by a stranger in the alley behind my house,” she wrote, adding, “My scar was a miniature form of celebrity. Kids knew who I was because of it. Lots of people liked to claim they were there when it happened. I was there. I saw it. Crazy Mike did it! Adults were kind to me because of it… I was made to feel special. What should have shut me down and made me feel ‘less than’ ended up giving me an inflated sense of self.”
Kylie Jenner
As one of the most photographed people on the planet, Kylie Jenner isn’t afraid to show off her leg scar—which she sustained following an accident while climbing a pole when she was five.
In a fan Q&A in 2011, the makeup mogul revealed the details behind how she got the scar.
“When I was about five, my sister [Kendall] and I were playing hide and seek, and I hid inside this really tall, enclosed gate,” she explained. “After a while, when my sister didn’t find me, I had to climb up on this sharp pole sticking out from the gate. I slipped, and the pole went into my leg. I tried pulling away to get the pole out, but it just tore through my whole leg.”
Kylie is not afraid to show it off though, writing “I love my scar” on an Instagram image of it.
The scar also featured prominently on the cover of GQ, which the reality star posed for alongside then-boyfriend Travis Scott. Fans praised the Kylie Cosmetics founder for not photoshopping it out.
Prince William
Kate Middleton isn’t the only royal to have a prominent scar. Her husband, Prince William, also has one, which he jokingly calls his “Harry Potter scar.”
The royal was accidentally hit with a golf club when he was 13, leading to the permanent mark on the left side of his forehead.
“I call it [my Harry Potter scar] because it glows sometimes and some people notice it, other times they don’t notice it at all,” he said in a 2009 interview.
Padma Lakshmi
The Top Chef host has a long, snaking scar on her right arm, the result of a car crash she was in at the age of 14.
Queen Latifah
When the actress appeared on the cover of Variety in 2015, she requested that the scar on her forehead—the result of an injury she sustained after tripping over a phone cord—not be airbrushed out.
“It’s part of who I am, so I’d like it to be accepted as part of who I am,” she said. “There are a lot of people reading those magazines not unlike myself, who have some sort of scar too. I don’t think we should try to make everything look perfect.”
Carrie Underwood
In November 2018, country star Carrie Underwood tripped outside her home, broke her wrist and severely injured her face. She underwent surgery on her arm and received more than 40 stitches.
She told fans at the time, “In addition to breaking my wrist, I somehow managed to injure my face as well. I’ll spare you the gruesome details, but when I came out of surgery the night of my fall, the doctor told Mike [her husband] that he had put between 40 and 50 stitches in.”
She’s now not afraid to share photos of the scars, regularly posting selfies that show them off.
