1st May 2026 marks three years of the #NotMyShame campaign.
Three years ago, #NotMyShame was created by Emma‑Jane Taylor—and I was honoured to be the very first person to stand alongside her and wear the t‑shirt. At the time, I didn’t fully understand how much that moment would matter to me years later. I just knew one thing: what happened to me was not my fault.
When I was between the ages of seven and eleven, I was sexually abused. I was only a child. I did nothing wrong. And I refuse to carry the shame for something that was never mine to begin with.
That belief—not my shame—has helped shape the person I am today.
The last three years, however, have not been easy. They’ve brought challenges I never imagined my family would face. Some parts of that journey are deeply personal, and there are things I cannot share. What I can say is that it shook me. It left me silent. And, unexpectedly, it made me feel ashamed again—despite everything I knew to be true.
That silence wasn’t because I had nothing to say. It was because I was trying to survive it.
Finding My Voice Again
I’ve spent a long time trying to coming to terms with what has happened, not just in my past, but more recently too. Processing, protecting, holding everyone together. But somewhere along the way, I pushed my voice aside. I convinced myself it was easier to stay quiet.
But silence has a cost.
And today, I’m choosing something different.
I don’t want to be silent anymore—at least not about my story.
This post isn’t about reopening wounds for sympathy or reliving pain for attention. It’s about reclaiming my voice. It’s about standing in the same truth I stood in three years ago, even if my legs shake a little more this time.
I am not ashamed of what I went through.
I am not responsible for the actions of others.
And I will not carry blame that does not belong to me.
Wearing that #NotMyShame t‑shirt three years ago was an act of courage I didn’t fully recognise back then. Today, speaking again feels like another act of courage—maybe a little quieter perhaps, but just as important.
If you are reading this and you’ve been silent too, please know this:
There is no deadline on healing.
There is no right way to process trauma.
And there is absolutely no shame in surviving.
Today, I stand again with #NotMyShame.
Not louder than before.
Not braver than before.
Just brave enough to speak again.
And that is enough.
#NotMyShame is more than a phrase—it’s a movement that gives survivors permission to release shame that was never theirs to carry. Founded by Emma‑Jane Taylor, it exists to amplify voices, raise awareness, and remind those affected by abuse that they are not alone. If you want to learn more about the campaign, its message, or show your support, you can visit https://notmyshame.global/.
