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Actually, I Can

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The Winners

Sumeyya Hadi

Ailis O’Carroll

Ben Pettingill

Nidhi Mahajan

Birgitta Otto

Sophie Thorn

 Winners will be photographed on August 21st  so stay tuned!

Actually, I Can – Campaign

What’s stopping you from achieving your dreams? Like actually stopping you? Is it a fear of failure? An anxiety of what others might think? Or is it a feeling that nothing less than perfect will do? In a world full of unlimited opportunities, why do we allow ourselves to be held back by our own self-doubt?

‘Actually I Can’ is a campaign all about overcoming self-doubt and inspiring others to do the same. 6 people will be chosen to take part in a magazine-style photo shoot and then given a platform to share their story with the world. We want to celebrate the moment when you turned a positive corner and began to believe in yourself.

On top of winning their own individual photo shoots, each of the 6 ambassadors will be invited to take part in a group campaign which will be unveiled at an exclusive launch party in our Melbourne studio.

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MADDY’S STORY

This is Maddy. She overcame taunts from a bullying dance teacher and learnt to love every inch of herself again.

“Dancing had been a part of my life since the age of 2 and a half and I had been competitively competing since the age of 7. My new teacher whom I had been taught by prior was someone I believed to be trusted… but her methods were the opposite of nurturing.

At 13 and a half, my body had spread in all different directions and every day I reminded that I wasn’t the perfect body she had envisioned me to be. I remember little slices of insults such as: “Being overweight Madeline is causing you to go backwards, you are losing technique!” and “You will never achieve anything”

It was the proudest day of my life, when I sat there and could not stop smiling at my photos in my viewing session with The Photo Studio. Sharing the proud moment with my Mum, it was a moment of ure happiness when she smiled at me and said “you made it sweetie, you’ve won.””

CLICK HERE for Maddy’s full story

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SOPHIE’S STORY

When Sophie was seven, she was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia, a genetic disorder that affects the nervous system causing muscle weakness and heart failure. Sophie hasn’t let the disorder prevent her moving mountains and she certainly hasn’t let it stop her from pursuing her dreams.

CLICK HERE to watch Sophie’s full video

POPPE’S STORY

This is Poppe. Poppe is diagnosed with high functioning autism. This means that her brain works differently to most of ours. It isn’t just that her capacity for learning and retaining information is different. It’s that Poppe doesn’t know how to read facial expressions or pick up on social queues – making social connection extremely challenging for her. As a result of her autism Poppe’s biggest fear growing up was rejection. She never approached other kids because she felt that instantly they wouldn’t accept her.

And look at her here, radiating confidence and a lust for life. Poppe is now involved with an organization called Ican. It was started by a group of autistic guys to help kids with autism build their self-esteem. They’ve asked Poppe to be a mentor so she can work with young children who are going through the same struggles that she did.

CLICK HERE for Poppe’s story

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Terms and Conditions
1.       Promotion commences on 21/07/17. Entries close on 31/07/17. Entries submitted and received after this time will not be accepted.
2.      You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
  1. Winner will be announced on 04/08/17 via a phone call and email.
4.      Prize cannot be redeemed for cash.
5.      The Photo Studio reserves the right to change the rules of the competition at any time.
6.      The winner will be selected by a panel of judges.
7.      By entering this competition you are agreeing to be contacted by email or phone by a representative of The Photo Studio or third party.
8.      By entering this competition you will be automatically joining our newsletter.

27 Comments

Keisha Marie Cleland

What has stopped me with pursuing my dreams and passions that mentally held me back for so many years was being sexually assaulted when I was 15. I lost myself for a long time after that happen and wasn’t the best person at that time because of it. Through time and a lot of effort I’ve managed to go from being a year 10 drop out with no ambition or drive to do anything in life to now being a 20 year old recently graduated university student. I still struggle from time to time but I’m still pushing forward and not going to give up I don’t want what happen to me define who I am I want what I’ve achieved in life to define me.

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Drew Sullivan

Keisha, thank you for sharing such a personal story with us. It’s a testament to your character that you have been able to turn things around and follow-through with an entire university degree by the age of 20. I hope that sharing your story helps to lighten the burden for you and that it shows others who are not so positive that there is light at the end of every tunnel.

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Shajuty

I aspired to be a model since childhood, my height was always in my way. I tried to overcome this several times, however it hasn’t been as easy as it seems.I wanna show the world if I trust myself I can achieve what I dream for!! World should not decide my dreams!!

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Kelly @ The Photo Studio

Hi Shajuty, you are an inspiration to all the shorter ladies everywhere! It is much more accepted to model at a shorter height these days, with boutique ‘alternative’ agencies popping up and representing models that don’t fit the classic ‘cookie cutter’ expectations. All hope is certainly not lost as there are more opportunities than ever. Keep doing your thing, you’re amazing! Kelly

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Kelly @ The Photo Studio

Hey Rachna, good to hear from you. We would love for you to participate and hear your story. This is what we would need from you :-

To take part in the Actually I Can campaign, tell us in 100-words-or-less what held you back in life and how you overcame it. Please include your full name, age, mobile, email and postcode. Applications may be submitted via Instagram DM or emailed to [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear your story, Rachna!

Entries close on 31/07/17.

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Fatma

I would love to take part of this wonderfull competition because I always held my self back because of my weight when I was 15 Then I started to realise I could take control that’s why I started Zumba I started to see results , I decided to start on something like this when I see more progress however this persuaded me to take this chance.

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Kelly @ The Photo Studio

Hey Fatma, you do zumba? That’s amazing! We love a good dance session here at the studio, it’s such a great way to exercise. Good on you for finding a passion you love that also benefits your health, we could all take a leaf of inspiration out of your book!

We would love to hear from you and ready your story, here’s how to enter:

To take part in the Actually I Can campaign, tell us in 100-words-or-less what held you back in life and how you overcame it. Please include your full name, age, mobile, email and postcode. Applications may be submitted via Instagram DM or emailed to [email protected]. We’re very much looking forward to reading your story, Fatma.

Entries close on 31/07/17.

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Karlie

Anxiety and depression have always been in my way for as long as I can remember. I suffered abuse at a young age and one half of my family believed it was my fault and blamed me for breaking up the family and would send me emails and letters and call me up to say how horrible I am. I coped by eating my emotions and then as i hit puberty i coped by eating nothing and whittling down my size to skeletel form. I got myself through it though, and while you wouldn”t know it now that i was so underweight because now I struggle to lose weight after having my kids, but I am in a much better place now -my body is amazing, it co-created two amazing kids and theu are bright, happy and healthy. I still struggle with anxiety and depression at times but I am a fighter and I can het through it 🙂

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Kelly @ The Photo Studio

Karlie, what a courageous and inspirational woman you are. Nobody should have to suffer at the hands of an abuser and it’s soi sad to hear your family couldn’t understand. Eating disorders come in many forms, whether it is ‘over-eating’ or not eating at all and it’s just amazing that you are open enough to share your struggles. It’s so important for people to know that’s it’s okay to speak up and there is no shame! It’s people like you that open that door of truth and allow others to stand up and speak too, Karlie. What an amazing lady you are!

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Karlie

Anxiety and depression have always been in my way for as long as I can remember. I suffered abuse at a young age and one half of my family believed it was my fault and blamed me for breaking up the family and would send me emails and letters and call me up to say how horrible I am. I coped by eating my emotions and then as i hit puberty i coped by eating nothing and whittling down my size to skeletel form. I got myself through it though, and while you wouldn”t know it now that i was so underweight because now I struggle to lose weight after having my kids, but I am in a much better place now -my body is amazing, it co-created two amazing kids and they are bright, happy and healthy. I still struggle with anxiety and depression at times but I am a fighter and I can get through it 🙂

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Kelly @ The Photo Studio

Karlie, what a courageous and inspirational woman you are. Nobody should have to suffer at the hands of an abuser and it’s soi sad to hear your family couldn’t understand. Eating disorders come in many forms, whether it is ‘over-eating’ or not eating at all and it’s just amazing that you are open enough to share your struggles. It’s so important for people to know that’s it’s okay to speak up and there is no shame! It’s people like you that open that door of truth and allow others to stand up and speak too, Karlie. What an amazing lady you are! 🙂

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Rhiannon Fontana

Since I was 11 years old I have suffered chronic daily pain, chronic fatigue, a cancer scare and more. I was bullied all the way through high school and it became easy to withdraw into myself, escape the world. When I discovered that my condition was permanent and that I could no longer pursue an active career – I wanted to be a midwife – I disappeared for a long time. Not engaging in the real world, not getting out of bed. And then something amazing happened, I sat down at my laptop and completed the novel I had been writing for eight years and a weight lifted – I could do this. I empowered myself that day and that novel will be released later this year. I still live with all the same symptoms and conditions I did before that but now I have a goal, I have a life to look forward to.

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Kelly @ The Photo Studio

Hi Rhiannon, great to hear from you 🙂 A novel? Wow, that’s rather impressive. Not everyone can say they have written AND released a novel can they?! You should be so proud of yourself, not only just for pushing through the pain you have suffered, but also for grabbing life with both hands and saying yes to a new adventure. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, we would absolutely love to get our hands on a book when it is released too! x

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Liana Pitt

From the age of 14 -23 I have been in and out of abusive toxic relationships, 3 days before my 18th bday I was sexually assaulted.I am a proud Aboriginal f=woman from a low social -economic background.
I attempted suicide in 2015 and now live with a knife wound scar that remind me everyday I am here I am alive I am strong I am important. You name the injury and i have the hospital records to show for. At the tender age of 23 after surviving an attempt on my own life I decided to walk towards a different path. A path of self discovery and self love so fierce that when anybody meets me they know too how to treat me.
This year I am celebrating 2 whole years of being single and being independent. Following my dreams and passing my first semester of law school whilst working in an amazing workplace and supporting my 6 year old daughter who has started kindergarten. I have been living independantly for 12 months and joined a netball team and am very very proud of where i have come from and who I am as a beautiful young Aboriginal woman. I am entering this because “Actually I can ” Is literally my life motto.

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Maryam

My name is Maryam, I am 17 years of age and this is my story. At the age of 13 I was bullied at a female only school for not wearing a hijab or some may refer it as a ” scarf” . I was locked in the basement at my school a few times by these bullies and the school never ended up dealing with them, I ended up leaving school at the start of year 8 and didn’t return too school until a few years later at a much nicer place which then I was put into year 10 . Just when I thought things were going well I had an unexpected visit from my mother too inform me that my eldest brother had passed away due too a car accident. I stopped attending school once again, got onto drugs and felt absolutely hopeless but with the help and the support from my loving mother, I managed too build myself up once again. I grew incredibly close too my mother and we had built such an amazing relationship, we were always together night and day… It was 20th of may 2016 around 8:30pm and my mother was driving me too a friends place close by. Once I got too my friends place, I got out the car, went too her window, leant in and gave my mum a kiss not knowing that’ll be the last time. After she left that night I messaged her about 30 minutes later saying ” I love you mummy ” . Just as a reminder incase she forgot!! But I got no reply and found it odd that she hadn’t gotten back too me. 9:45 that night I got a call from my father telling me that my mother has had a stroke, we waited and waited at the hospital too find out she wasn’t likely going too make it but me and my family decided that with hope she might come back if you she stays on life support . A few days later the plugs were pulled, we said our prayers, gave her our kisses and hugs and held her hand for the last time. Since the incident nothing’s been the same and I’m finding it hard too deal with Day too Day issues and hope that I can find the strength too find myself once again.

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Faiza

Hi Maryam,
You are a strong woman. There is no doubt in that. Being a Muslim myself I know how hard it is to live in a society where nothing you do is ever good enough and that is where we go wrong. We should do what makes us happy. Life is never easy neither does it come with a manual. Whenever you start a new project in life, think about your mother and how she would encourage you to pursue whatever it is that you want in life. We may not always see eye-to-eye with out parents but their blessings is always upon us, no matter where we go and what we do. In Sha Allah kheir. Best of luck with everything you aim for 🙂

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Jessica Field

Hello I’m Jessica a 28 year old nurse living in Melbourne. In life I have faced challenges to get to where I am today. As a child I faced years of extreme bullying and often times physical attacks because of my size. When I was 18 unfortunately I was trapped in house fire, resulting in more than 30% if my body being burnt. I was hospitalised for months and it took me a year to physically recover. I plummeted into a complete mental break down for years often spending days on end in bed not wanting to live. Becoming a carer at 21 is when things started to turn around, worthless as I felt I had people depending on me to care for them when they where their most vulnerable. I studied to become a nurse and in the meantime lost 45kg’s. I still have a jiggle in my wiggle but keep working at it. Helping others feeds my soul, I find myself facing challenges with a true sense of optimism niw. Often co-workers and loved ones say how I just radiate happiness and I could not be more proud of how far I have come thus far.

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Samantha Back

I am 31 years of age. I am a single mum to 3 boys and my little girl. I never found myself to be the pretty one, or the out going one, or confident one. I thought I’d just be a mum.. That’s it although that’s a pretty awesome job too, I wanted to make a difference in peoples lives. My first relationship lasted 8 years. We started ri want different things, he started getting into drugs and was fertinf abusive mentally. I kicked him out. Just me and the 3 boys. About 8 months later I meet my a new man. I thought he was the bees knees, told me what I wanted to hear, was gentleman like and everyone liked him too. We had our baby girl together 2 years later. Then rhubgs changed, he got Moody, angry quickly, saying weird stuff. Then one day he hit me repeatly whilst I held my daughter and my boys looked on. I plucked the courage to grab my babies and hide in the room until I heard him leave and I locked the door. The boys dad came and got the boys after I called him. I never heard from him that night. The following afternoon he came home, apologised said he blacked out he promised ri her help. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, I believed him.
A fee months passed, he still hadn’t gotten help, if I questioned him it would start an argument.
Then one night, I drive my boys to rhier dads, he came. Started in the car in me, I pulled over he got out, I was hoping the walk home would calm him down, but it didn’t. I put my daughter to bed. He started… Calling me anything and everything he could. He then attacked me. Put me in the tightest headlock punching my ribs, I tried to wrestle him off me even trying to scratch His eyes just so he would let me go, he then slammed me into a wall hard as I tried to get back up he then elbowed my cheek bone. The most scariest thing I have ever endured. I ran to the front door and screamed for help, from neighbours, people passing by, anyone. He must if came too after his episode and went out the front door, I quickly closed it and locked it. I went to grab the phone to call the police, that’s when I heard him yell out “I’m going to jump the fence come inside and flog you” .
I was petrified. I rang 000.
They were immediate. He was found out the front of my house, he didn’t even try to run from the scene.
I made my statement, checked my daughter, she was still asleep. He was arrested, charged he ended go getting a 12 month fiid behaviour bond and not alowwed 100m near the house That’s it.
I suffer now from servere anxiety. I lost 10kgs in 3 weeks, don’t sleep, stress, every noise would haunt me because he was still in the area at His sisters house, who blame me for him attacking me!
After seeking medical help for my anxiety and realising I’m still letting him control me, I decided to let it go.
Its been 4 weeks since the attack, and everyday is getting easier. I deserve happiness, and so do my children. I have completed my diploma in beauty and am on my way to opening a mobile beauty business, because the best revenge is success.

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Manori Pathiranage

What an amazing journey my life has been so far, all the lessons learned all the laughter tears and heartache I’ve endured especially these last 5 years. I say to myself ” why me”? Then I think why not me! This is my blue print and this is the way my life is meant to unfold, but at the end of the day it is how I choose to manage it? My biggest sadness was when my first love from the age of 17 who I ended up marrying left me after 20 years for another woman. I loved him more than life itself, and his parting words to me was ” you are shitting yourself now because you know you can’t get another man”! That was when the light bulb switched on and I knew at that moment I had full control of the steering wheel for my life.. and there was only one way I was heading and that was to live life to the fullest and have an abundance of happiness always within me. I mentally and physically changed me for the better and today I look back at all I’ve been through and I’m thankful because it’s made me the woman I am today. An awesome mum to a gorgeous 14 year old son and a loving daughter, sister friend and partner to an amazing man who has come into my life. I’m so excited about life and look forward to what each day brings to me.

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Katie

All my life I was told that I will never be as strong as boys, because girls are naturally weaker. I decided that I won’t let biology stop me and so I learned jiu-jitsu. Now, after 4 years of doing jiu-jitsu, I can ragdoll men like nothing. It brings me great joy to see the look of utter disbelief on their face when they can’t get me off top or when I out wrestle them. True, biology might make women weaker than men, but biology isn’t everything. We can learn skills, we can work harder to be better and stronger. I love inspiring other women and especially girls. I want to show them that our life is in our hands and that if we work hard for it, we will get what we want.

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Adrienne McGuire

Is so awesome! I’m so glad that you guys did this project. I read every single person’s description and watched Sophie’s video. It’s very motivational and makes you realize that anything can be overcome.

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Tarryn Morrissey

Suffering from An eating disorder since age 6, my life was completely consumed and paralysed by it, holding me back from social activities, pursuing sports, relationships and from letting the world see me as i truly am. I became a health professional to help people but Initially held myself back due to my appearance. I got help and I’ve realised actually I can inspire others to strive for health regardless of size. Now I’m working on a weight neutral health program to launch soon.

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DIANE SABA

I’ve only ever been employed by one person in my life – that is my father – in the family business. I stopped working to have my children, knowing i would return to my one and only employer who i loved! After he passed away 15 years ago, my brothers chose to not have me back at work. One brother in particular doesn’t believe women should be “smart”. They should have babies and keep busy in the kitchen and the laundry. So i decided to be my own boss, create my own businesses and hold my own interviews (even though i never sat one). I am proud to say that i told myself “I can” to prove to myself and the stone age thinkers that a woman can be a successful business owner. Three children later and two Child Care centres later – i tell myself every day “actually I can”…and i can hear my dad’s voice within telling me every day 🙂

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Cara Maku

I suffered from un diagnosed High-Functioning Autism until I was 24. I was so scared of failure and rejection and social interaction that It’s only just now with the support of an amazing best friend and GP that I’ve started to pursue my dream of becoming a Nurse. I’m happier, I’m braver and I’m finally embracing making a life where I belong as me! Cara!

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Jeanneth

I am Latin girl and now I am on the other side of the world, I had a stable job, I worked for the government of my country good money, good job, but, one day, when that government ended, I decided that I did not want to stay there, that it was time to move. All the safe spaces, that day I decided that I wanted to go away and I want to be alone. Many questioned my decision, why leave me if I had everything? Precisely for that! Because I need new challenges, to know new worlds and to learn new languages, because I want to talk to people who are different from me, people who like art and different food, think differently. I needed to go to meet a new Jeanneth.

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Amber Bolton

I have struggled with my weight ever since I can remember. This has led to poor self-esteem, holding me back in living my dream of becoming an actor.
I felt that I wasn’t perfect enough and have always waited for the right moment.

I also love playing music and creating art. These artistic interests have helped me through some difficult times.
I am very fortunate to have the support of my beautiful family. My love for music, drama and art continues to help me on my journey to realising my full potential and rebuilding my self-esteem.

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