She was told to "correct" her asymmetrical breasts, but she chose to love them as they are.

Women all have one breast larger than the other, and it's not always noticeable through clothing or lingerie. But Rebecca has a rare syndrome that accentuates this size difference, which is reflected in her cleavage. She has unequal breasts and refuses to undergo surgery to "balance" them. She finds harmony in this unique aesthetic.

The result of a chest malformation

She has one breast that barely fits under the seams of her lingerie and another that fills the entire cup of her bra. Her breasts, with their varying shapes, are so different that they seem to belong to two completely separate bodies. There's a difference of three or four cup sizes between them. Yet, this chest, which has grown unevenly and requires custom-made bras, has a unique face: that of Rebecca, aka @beccabutcherx . At first glance, one might think that young Rebecca underwent an early mastectomy , but in reality, she has Poland syndrome . This rare condition, inherited from birth, remained relatively undetected until puberty.

At 13, an age when curves begin to develop, Rebecca witnessed these changes firsthand. While her left breast had almost finished growing, her right breast remained flat. At first, she thought it was a normal occurrence, but then she began to question her appearance. She went through a veritable medical limbo, feeling more and more "abnormal" each day. Doctors told her she had to be patient, that her right breast would grow eventually. Yet, she spent half her childhood hoping in vain. This breast wasn't being difficult or delayed; it simply had a malformation.

Rebecca diagnosed herself by typing a few keywords into Google and recognized herself as having Poland syndrome. It affects one in 10,000 people and involves underdevelopment of the rib cage muscles, which explains the disproportionate appearance of her chest.

Asymmetrical breasts under fire

The 25-year-old British woman has had to learn to live with this physical peculiarity and accept her divergent breasts in a world where breasts don't cause a stir. Far from withdrawing into shame and hiding her uniqueness, she has become both a subject of scientific study and a source of inspiration for internet users. Online, she sheds her clothes in the name of body diversity. She reveals to her virtual audience what she once cursed in front of the mirror.

While she receives daily messages of encouragement and appreciation, she is also subjected to hurtful words. Her atypical breasts fuel the fantasies of anonymous predators and stir the venom of online trolls. Her detractors criticize her for leaving her breasts "as they are." They advise her, with feigned kindness, to have them surgically altered or "fixed" as if they were defective. But none of this can shake Rebecca's confidence; she is the living embodiment of positivity.

Rebecca, who advocates for a freer, less codified beauty, has no intention of altering her breasts with implants or Botox. That wouldn't be enhancement, but disfigurement. It would be tantamount to distorting the very breasts she has taken so long to see with loving eyes.

Accepting your breasts instead of "correcting" them

In an era of plastic surgery and silicone-enhanced breasts, leaving asymmetrical breasts untouched is almost unacceptable. According to current standards, Rebecca should undergo breast reduction surgery or get implants to correct the physical damage. However, she doesn't feel like she's had a breast amputated or that she's been deprived of her "femininity."

On the other hand, she wouldn't feel entirely herself if her right breast were an exact replica of her left. She may be missing a breast, but at least Rebecca has all her wits about her, unlike her detractors, who have lost all meaning of empathy. There are no ideal models or reference figures; every body is beautiful in its own way.

Rebecca raises awareness about Poland syndrome online and turns her difference to her advantage with poetic adornments. She may have an asymmetrical chest, but at least she has no aesthetic equal. And in an age where surgery creates clones, that's precious.

Émilie Laurent
Émilie Laurent
A wordsmith, I juggle stylistic devices and hone the art of feminist punchlines on a daily basis. In the course of my articles, my slightly romantic writing style offers you some truly captivating surprises. I revel in unraveling complex issues, like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. Gender minorities, gender equality, body diversity… A journalist on the edge, I dive headfirst into topics that ignite debate. A workaholic, my keyboard is often put to the test.

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