A young woman who lost several front teeth in an accident revealed there's more to beauty than a Hollywood smile.
At 24, Lily Magno, from West Virginia, US, began wearing dentures. She once felt embarrassed but now proudly displays her journey on TikTok and other platforms, encouraging others to embrace their toothless smiles.
Sharing her story, the blonde said: "When I was 13, I experienced a significant skateboard accident. My friend and I were messing around, riding the same skateboard. My friend took a tumble, and my face ended up serving as her landing pad."
READ MORE: Deliverance ‘toothless man’ unrecognisable but still can’t read after years in Hollywood
Check out more real life stories here
Even though Lily was protecting her head with a helmet, the force of the collision was too much for her dental braces, and they broke. Fortunately, Magno didn't lose any teeth that day, but the trauma inflicted on her gums would prove to be a long-lasting ordeal.
"Turns out, when you experience trauma to your face and teeth, it can lead to issues down the road," she elaborated. "These issues could include dental complications, gum troubles, and even tooth loss."
A decade after that skateboarding mishap, Lily grappled with the unexpected repercussions. Her gums became infected, and the battle for her dental health began. She said: "In high school, I started experiencing toothache. A trip to the dentist revealed my gum tissue was eating away at one of the roots of my tooth due to past trauma, and I needed root canal treatment.
"The root canal helped ease the pain, but a few years later, the pain returned, and the tooth had to be extracted and an implant inserted."
In 2020, Lily started experiencing severe pain with two more teeth. Despite antibiotic treatment and bone grafting efforts, a tough decision had to be made. Two more teeth were removed, and she was fitted with dentures as her gums were too damaged for implants.
Amid the struggles of wearing dentures, Lily turned to TikTok as an outlet to share her journey with tooth loss, documenting the highs and lows, the joys and insecurities.
Magno's authenticity and unfiltered storytelling struck a chord with viewers worldwide. Her TikTok videos, where she posts under the handle @lilyymagno, quickly gained traction, and her message of self-acceptance began to spread. Today, Lily has more than 721,000 fans and 27million likes on TikTok, as well as 78,000 followers on Instagram.
"I was so ashamed and insecure when I first lost my teeth," she said. "I didn't want to talk about it to anyone, let alone broadcast it on TikTok. I hated my smile and the stigma around missing teeth. But then I realised I'm not alone in feeling this way.
"I wanted to turn my negativity into something positive, to feel better about my smile and help others do the same. So, I used my platform to spread a new kind of body positivity."
Despite the overwhelming support and love she received, Lily still encountered her fair share of trolls and haters on social media. Yet, instead of allowing negativity to define her, she consciously chose to use her dentures to symbolise empowerment.
"When I started sharing my story in 2020, I was astonished by how many people would comment, saying things like, 'I can relate to your experience,' 'I'm so insecure about my missing teeth, I wish I had your confidence,' or 'you inspire me'," she said.
"The irony was that, at the time, I didn't feel confident about my teeth. I wanted to help others, but I also felt like a bit of a fraud. Putting myself out there was scary, but the positive responses gradually boosted my confidence. I basically faked it until I genuinely felt it.
"Of course, I encountered trolls early on, which initially bothered me. However, I tend to have a 'glass half full' attitude, so the positive comments and the inspiration I could provide outweighed the negativity."
As she continues to use her voice to uplift and empower, Lily, whose podcast OnlyTeeth will be available soon on Spotify and Apple, reminds us all that all smiles – even imperfect ones – are beautiful.
Get all the biggest Lifestyle news straight to your inbox. Sign up for the free Daily Star Hot Topics newsletter.
"Beauty standards aren't real," she says. "We are all human, which means we are all uniquely made. We each have our own flaws, but they don't define us. And so there is no scale for beauty. Your flaws and other people's opinions cannot determine your self-worth. Only you can.
"If someone criticises your flaws, that's their issue, not yours. Self-worth comes from self-respect and positive relationships. It's about knowing you're a good person and treating others kindly. Confidence starts with self-love, not appearance.
"If you struggle in any of these areas, consider therapy. It's a powerful tool for finding peace and self-worth. Mental health is openly discussed today, and therapy isn't just for diagnosed disorders; it's for building confidence and healthier relationships, judgment-free."
Source: Read Full Article