Smeared Selfies: Smudge your lipstick for cervical cancer
updated the 6 October 2015 à 23:22
After the ALS ice bucket challenge, the spotlight is now on a smear campaign for cervical cancer. Smudge your lipstick, take a selfie and join in to raise awareness!
Everybody tends to make sure that they look their best before uploading a selfie and some even seek the help of Photoshop to create the perfect photo. Well, not this time.
Celebrities have started nominating each other to smear their lipstick and take a selfie to raise awareness for cervical cancer. Supermodel, Georgia May Jagger‘s gap teeth made their appearance on social media together with her smudged red lips. Next to follow suit was Rita Ora, who donned dark sunnies in contrast with her smeared ruby red lipstick.
Hashtagged #SmearForSmear, this latest social media craze, after the no-makeup-selfie and ALS ice bucket challenge, was initiated by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust at the start of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. The rate of the disease in women between 25 to 29 have risen by a staggering 59.2% in just a short decade. But last year alone, over one million women skipped their regular pap smear tests. Some are reluctant to have these screenings, saying they are painful, embarrassing and unnecessary. But this five-minute test is essentially the best prevention to the disease.
In Singapore, cervical cancer ranks in the top 10 cancers to affect women. But in contrast to the world, the rate of the disease and caused deaths in Singapore is currently on a downward trend. You guessed it – the lowering rate is thanks to CervicalScreen Singapore, a pap smear scheme launched by the government.
The government has done their part and now it’s time to do yours! Will you go for regular checks and smear your lipstick along with the celebrities?
Natasha Gan
