We recently connected with Nichola Cotto and have shared our conversation below.
Nichola, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Through our photography and videography storytelling platform, we aim to create lasting change by raising awareness about the strength and resilience of women and girls who have experienced trauma. We challenge societal norms and beauty standards that perpetuate harmful messages about self-worth and appearance. We celebrate the beauty in diversity and individuality, showing that scars, both physical and emotional, do not define a person’s worth or value.
At We Are Not Broken, we believe in the power of storytelling, connection, and empowerment. We strive to create a community where women and girls can find healing, support, and a sense of belonging. We are dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of those who have experienced trauma, and we are committed to creating a world where all women and girls know that they are strong, valuable, and capable of overcoming any challenge.
One of the most profound aspects of “We Are Not Broken” that has deeply touched me is the unwavering trust placed in our team to authentically capture the raw emotions of pain, struggle, hurt, shame, and self-doubt experienced by women and girls. It is truly moving to witness the vulnerability and courage displayed by our subjects, as they open up and share their stories with us.
At “We Are Not Broken,” we recognize the immense significance of these stories, as they shed light on the harsh realities and challenges faced by women and girls in our society. Through their words and experiences, we aim to raise awareness, foster empathy, and promote understanding, in order to create positive change and empower those who have suffered in silence.
Every day, our team is humbled by the privilege of being entrusted with these powerful narratives. We handle them with the utmost care, sensitivity, and respect, knowing that they carry the weight of lived experiences and personal truths. It is an honor to be able to capture the essence of these stories and convey them to a wider audience, with the hope of inspiring empathy, action, and transformation.
As we continue our mission at “We Are Not Broken,” we are deeply grateful for the support and encouragement of our community.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was a Master Fitness Trainer for over 24 years. In that time the one thing I heard on repeat was the way women talked about themselves. Constantly never good enough, never strong enough, never skinny enough, never pretty enough, never enough! It was exhausting, and sad, and upsetting all at the same time. Add a physical or emotional scar to that equation and that is what compounds the feelings of brokenness, shame, and isolation. As a woman I knew I had the tools and talent to make a difference, and not just continue to accept this narrative. After retiring from the fitness industry, I knew that in the second half of my life that I was going to make a difference and not a paycheck. The art of photography has always intrigued me. After purchasing a camera, I volunteered at my church on the photography team for almost 2 years and I knew it was through photography that I would capture stories, those stories would be of women and girls and their scars.
We currently have a pending trademark for the acronym SCARS- Surviving Challenges and Rediscovering Strengths. This is what We Are Not Broken is all about, the survival, the strength, the rediscovery of oneself after a society of filters and photoshop would tell us differently.
Empowering women to stand up and be heard is a personal mission of mine. I have researched and developed a resilience model that allows women and girls to share their scar stories in a safe environment, with the goal of changing the culture of how society views scars. I will continue to research, speak and publish on the benefits of sharing trauma, pain and hurt.
Community service is my core value, I have served on numerous non-profit and professional boards and committees. I Currently serve as the Executive Director for We Are Not Broken, which I founded almost 5 years ago.
One thing that may not be fully understood by people about the “We Are Not Broken” organization is the importance of empowering women to share their scar stories, both the good and the bad. While some may view scars as a source of shame or embarrassment, the organization recognizes that these scars can also be symbols of resilience and strength.
By encouraging women to share their stories, the organization aims to create a safe and supportive community where individuals can feel validated and empowered. Through this process, women can gain a sense of agency over their experiences and use their stories to inspire others who may be struggling with similar issues.
However, some people may not fully appreciate the transformative power of this process, and may view it as simply an opportunity for individuals to share their stories for the sake of catharsis. While catharsis can certainly be a valuable outcome of sharing one’s story, the “We Are Not Broken” organization recognizes that this process can also be a powerful tool for promoting self-love and acceptance, and for challenging societal norms around beauty and perfection.
Ultimately, the organization’s mission is to help individuals see the beauty and strength in their scars, and to promote a more inclusive and accepting view of beauty. By empowering women to share their stories and promoting self-love and acceptance, the organization is making a meaningful impact on mental health and well-being, while inspiring others to embrace their own imperfections and find beauty in their scars.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
The main trait in building anyone’s reputation is their integrity, Ones integrity must be ones highest calling card in business.
You may start out in any business on a high of what you are going to accomplish, you may have the best ideas to bring to the market. Your brand, your business will only reach a certain height if you lack integrity, because eventually your lacking in that area will find you out and then your credibility which is built upon your integrity, will crumble
Very closely after integrity would be loyalty, loyalty to your brand, yourself and your customer.
I know that my integrity and loyalty stand in tact and therefore my credibility will never be questioned. This has what has sustained me throughout my 30 plus years as a business owner.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
December 27th 2021 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was in the best shape of my life and my career was taking me to new levels. My life seemed to come to a standstill all of a sudden, on what should of been the best and most lucrative upcoming years for me.
Almost immediately I knew that my journey had to be shared, I had to share all of my own scars, the good, the bad and the ugly. SHaring that journey was a way for me to push through this very traumatic time in my life and stay the course I had worked so hard to be on.
I had to tell myself that this will pass. I lost my breasts, I had numerous surgical procedures over an 18 month period, but every time I had to put on that hospital gown, I knew that my story was not for me, it was for someone else.
I stay in the lane of resilience because it is there I thrive the most.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wearenotbroken.org perspectivebydesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanbscarstories/. https://www.instagram.com/perspectivebydesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearenotbroken2019/. https://www.facebook.com/perspectivedesigncompany/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wanb2019/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYwT8-1DFd4yg5BmPp3uR-g
Image Credits
Nichola Cotto