My biggest source of shame concerning my vulva was always the asymmetry of my inner labia—one is visibly larger and has a different shape than the other one. This shame originated in the fact that it hadn’t always been that way—one side began growing when I began pleasuring myself at a young age. I thought I was deforming myself, mutilating myself, and watched in deep shame as my right inner labia grew over the years. I don’t know to this day if it actually grew because of me pleasuring myself or if it just grew because that’s what bodies do. Interestingly, as I was taking the front angle picture for my vulva portrait, I realized with surprise that I can’t even see my apparently large inner labia at that angle. I got into the habit of tucking it away over the years, but even untucked it is not visible. All these years spent on dreading my huge, one-sided, deformed inner labia, and it turns out I can’t even see it. Now I try to be thankful for my cute little vulva, and even my one-side-longer inner labia. And I am thankful to Hilde, who is the creator behind this lovely and empowering project. When I came across the Vulva Gallery, I knew I had to be a part of it. And I am in love with my portrait! Thank you!!! And thank you to all sharing the stage with me! ;-)

M. - 25 years old