Teenage Seattle burns survivor reveals her facial scars for the first time

July 2024 ยท 6 minute read

A burns survivor who was once branded a 'monster' by cruel bullies has bravely revealed her scars for the first time.

Pam Aguilar, 17, from Seattle, Washington, suffered severe burns to half her face, neck, arms and chest in an accident ten years ago and spent years covering them with clothing and heavy makeup.

The student was just seven years old when she was burned during Day of the Dead celebrations, when alcohol that had spilled onto her skin caught alight.

'I don't have to hide them anymore': After ten years of covering up with clothing and layers of makeup, Pam Aguilar has finally decided to show off her scars

'I don't have to hide them anymore': After ten years of covering up with clothing and layers of makeup, Pam Aguilar has finally decided to show off her scars

After waking from a four-month medically induced coma, Pam underwent more than 40 skin grafts to repair the scarring that covered more than half of her body.

At first, she was forced to wear a special mask with moisturising lotion and a hat which covered most of her face.

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During her school years, she was called a 'monster' and told that she looked 'scary'.

And until this year, the teenager hid her facial scarring beneath layers of makeup.

Now, one decade on from her life-changing accident, she's unveiling her burns for the first time after finally feeling confident and unashamed of her scars.

'I become very unconfident': After being taunted by cruel bullies at school, Pam spent years covering her scars with extensive makeup (pictured)

'I become very unconfident': After being taunted by cruel bullies at school, Pam spent years covering her scars with extensive makeup (pictured)

Pam recalled: 'Nearly 50 percent of my body was burned, my two hands were covered, my eyes, my lips, cheeks, neck, arm and half of my breast.

'I had to wear a mask and a hat to cover my scarring for six years when I was younger. It was a very tough time for me.

'My worst memory is being told that I was a monster in front of my entire class and that I looked scary because of my scarring.

'It was a horrid and horrific thing to say, I can still remember it very clearly now.'

She explained: 'After that I started to hide my scars even more, I become very unconfident, hiding them behind my hair and covering them with makeup.

Pam at 13, six years after the accident that left her badly burned. The youngster had to wear a hat, mask and protective layers over her skin that contained moisturiser

Pam at 13, six years after the accident that left her badly burned. The youngster had to wear a hat, mask and protective layers over her skin that contained moisturiser

Pamela as a youngster with her father Ricardo. She recalled: 'I had to wear a mask and a hat to cover my scarring for six years when I was younger. It was a very tough time for me'

Pamela as a youngster with her father Ricardo. She recalled: 'I had to wear a mask and a hat to cover my scarring for six years when I was younger. It was a very tough time for me'

'But this year, I started to accept that what happened to me was fate and that I cannot change that.

'I'm not sure how or why it happened, but I like my scars now and finally feel at ease with them.

'It's taken a long time but I don't feel like I have to hide them any more, now I only wear make-up when I want to and to make me feel good.

'I don't think it's easy to love your scars, it's possibly the hardest thing I've had to do in my life, but now I'm finally comfortable enough to reveal them.'

Pamela suffered second and third degree burns to her body during on Day of the Dead - a Mexican celebration where people pay gather to remember loved ones who have passed away.

Pam aged between five and six, just years before she was badly burned. During her school years, she was the victim of tormentors who called a 'monster' and told her she looked 'scary'

Pam aged between five and six, just years before she was badly burned. During her school years, she was the victim of tormentors who called a 'monster' and told her she looked 'scary'

Pam is pictured aged eight with her mother Margerita and their family dog during treatment. She suffered second and third degree burns to her body during on Day of the Dead

Pam is pictured aged eight with her mother Margerita and their family dog during treatment. She suffered second and third degree burns to her body during on Day of the Dead

Pam, aged nine, wears her mask to protect her skin. She endured more than 40 skin grafts and even after removing her mask she spent years covering her face beneath layers of makeup

Pam, aged nine, wears her mask to protect her skin. She endured more than 40 skin grafts and even after removing her mask she spent years covering her face beneath layers of makeup

She said: 'I was burned in an accident where alcohol spilled onto my skin and I caught fire, I was very young at the time.

'I remember falling to the ground and my skin started to fall off, it was like I was dreaming but it was a nightmare.

'I was awake the whole time, I didn't feel any pain, I was in shock and ended up really traumatised by it.'

Pam was treated by burns specialists at Shriners Hospital and has had more than 40 skin grafts to repair her skin.

Pam poses for a picture with classmates aged nine. She had to wear a mask for six years and describes it as a 'very tough time'

Pam poses for a picture with classmates aged nine. She had to wear a mask for six years and describes it as a 'very tough time'

Pam aged eight with her grandfather Arturo. This year, Pam felt confident enough to stop wearing make-up for the first time after accepting what happened to her

Pam aged eight with her grandfather Arturo. This year, Pam felt confident enough to stop wearing make-up for the first time after accepting what happened to her

She learned to hide her scarring after being bullied in school and enrolled on a make-up artistry course, with the hopes of empowering children who have been burned.

Pam said: 'I'm training to be a make-up artist because I want to help burns victims.

'I can make a person's scarring blend into their skin tone, allowing them to feel more secure about who they are.

'I don't want them to feel that their scars look ugly, red or disgusting.

Pam sports a more relaxed look with her makeup, after finally coming to terms with her scars. She said: 'Now I've accepted who I am and that I had no reason to be ashamed'

Pam sports a more relaxed look with her makeup, after finally coming to terms with her scars. She said: 'Now I've accepted who I am and that I had no reason to be ashamed'

'It doesn't hurt to help a someone feel good about their scars by decorating them with make-up, but I hope that someday they will realise their scars can look cute too.'

This year, Pam felt confident enough to stop wearing make-up for the first time after accepting what happened to her and learning to feel proud of who she is.

She said: 'I decided to start understanding and feeling good about myself.

'My scars are really big, they cover half of my face, cheeks, around my lips and neck, you can see them but I think they look cute.

'Before I was always trying to fix my past rather than my present, now I've accepted who I am and that I had no reason to be ashamed.'

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