A woman who was called “pizza face” by cruel tormentors has shared her “life-changing” journey to social media stardom, aiming to help others struggling.
Courtney Jones first developed acne at 15 years old, despite never having suffered from skin problems before.
The now 21-year-old content creator, 21, found herself housebound for months at a time after painful bouts of facial acne flared up and crushed her self-confidence.
Growing tired of the limitations her skin issues imposed, Courtney from Killamarsh, Sheffield, resolved to try to embrace her skin by taking to TikTok, where she soon gained 990,000 followers.
"It makes me feel uncomfortable going out in public because I feel like everyone is looking at me – it gets me down so much," she told http://NeedToKnow.co.uk."
Every time I look in the mirror I just want to cry because it seems like it’s never-ending.
"When I was at school people made a few comments about my acne.
"Someone once told me to go to the shops and get some face wash and cream, another person called me pizza face.
"Honestly, the people who don’t suffer from acne will not understand how draining it is and how low it gets you.
"When I started TikTok I got so much love and found a lot of people who were going through the exact same thing as me.
"It makes me feel like I’m not alone."
For Courtney, sharing her story online meant potentially opening herself up to more bullies but she says the idea of having a community to turn to kept her going.
But the trolls still come out of the woodwork.
She said: "Sometimes I can get hate comments where people will say horrible things to me in the, but 99% of it [my experience] is positive.
"I get hundreds of messages from others telling me how much I’ve helped them out and that they now they feel confident, and no longer care what others think.”
The social media star is also focused on showing skin differences for those who may not be used to seeing it in the media.
She wants to tackle the rise in skin-smoothing filters on social media and promote natural beauty instead.
Courtney said: "Having acne is rubbish but you have got to think it won’t last forever.
"Acne is so painful mentally and physically, which is why I wanted to embrace it on TikTok and normalise it so other people don’t feel like they are alone.
"Nowadays everyone uses all these filters to cover up real skin and real beauty."
As for her own journey, Courtney has been on 40mg of Accutane since May this year, which has seen her skin clear up dramatically, with four months of the treatment left to go.
She said: “I’ve been on this medication for nearly three months now and it’s going amazing, my skin is finally clearing up and I’m so much more confident in myself.
“I have had a few side effects, which are dry lips, nose bleeds, dry nose, and in the morning my eyes are stuck together.
“I also sometimes feel sick but so far so good!”
And her fans are along for the ride, with a recent clip getting 755,000 views and 67,000 likes.
Commenters were quick to share their amazement at the results of Courtney’s experience with Accutane, with some sharing their own struggles with acne.
Isabelle said: "I used to be on Accutane, best decision I ever made. So unbelievably happy for you.”
Nicole added: "Beautiful before and after".
Another person added: "Been here for a big part of your journey with fixing your acne, and I’m so so proud of you. thank you for sharing all these + & - moments, pretty". [sic]
Savannah added: "You are beautiful both ways, but I am so happy for you! You look so happy in the new photo".
Another person added: "I’m soo happy for you. You deserve to be free of the pain bless you thank you for being so transparent on your journey xx" [sic]
Lindsey wrote: "So happy for you! I went on it a few years ago and it never ever came back. Best decision ever".
A woman who was called “pizza face” by cruel tormentors has shared her “life-changing” journey to social media stardom, aiming to help others struggling.
Courtney Jones first developed acne at 15 years old, despite never having suffered from skin problems before.
The now 21-year-old content creator, 21, found herself housebound for months at a time after painful bouts of facial acne flared up and crushed her self-confidence.
Growing tired of the limitations her skin issues imposed, Courtney from Killamarsh, Sheffield, resolved to try to embrace her skin by taking to TikTok, where she soon gained 990,000 followers.
"It makes me feel uncomfortable going out in public because I feel like everyone is looking at me – it gets me down so much," she told http://NeedToKnow.co.uk."
Every time I look in the mirror I just want to cry because it seems like it’s never-ending.
"When I was at school people made a few comments about my acne.
"Someone once told me to go to the shops and get some face wash and cream, another person called me pizza face.
"Honestly, the people who don’t suffer from acne will not understand how draining it is and how low it gets you.
"When I started TikTok I got so much love and found a lot of people who were going through the exact same thing as me.
"It makes me feel like I’m not alone."
For Courtney, sharing her story online meant potentially opening herself up to more bullies but she says the idea of having a community to turn to kept her going.
But the trolls still come out of the woodwork.
She said: "Sometimes I can get hate comments where people will say horrible things to me in the, but 99% of it [my experience] is positive.
"I get hundreds of messages from others telling me how much I’ve helped them out and that they now they feel confident, and no longer care what others think.”
The social media star is also focused on showing skin differences for those who may not be used to seeing it in the media.
She wants to tackle the rise in skin-smoothing filters on social media and promote natural beauty instead.
Courtney said: "Having acne is rubbish but you have got to think it won’t last forever.
"Acne is so painful mentally and physically, which is why I wanted to embrace it on TikTok and normalise it so other people don’t feel like they are alone.
"Nowadays everyone uses all these filters to cover up real skin and real beauty."
As for her own journey, Courtney has been on 40mg of Accutane since May this year, which has seen her skin clear up dramatically, with four months of the treatment left to go.
She said: “I’ve been on this medication for nearly three months now and it’s going amazing, my skin is finally clearing up and I’m so much more confident in myself.
“I have had a few side effects, which are dry lips, nose bleeds, dry nose, and in the morning my eyes are stuck together.
“I also sometimes feel sick but so far so good!”
And her fans are along for the ride, with a recent clip getting 755,000 views and 67,000 likes.
Commenters were quick to share their amazement at the results of Courtney’s experience with Accutane, with some sharing their own struggles with acne.
Isabelle said: "I used to be on Accutane, best decision I ever made. So unbelievably happy for you.”
Nicole added: "Beautiful before and after".
Another person added: "Been here for a big part of your journey with fixing your acne, and I’m so so proud of you. thank you for sharing all these + & - moments, pretty". [sic]
Savannah added: "You are beautiful both ways, but I am so happy for you! You look so happy in the new photo".
Another person added: "I’m soo happy for you. You deserve to be free of the pain bless you thank you for being so transparent on your journey xx" [sic]
Lindsey wrote: "So happy for you! I went on it a few years ago and it never ever came back. Best decision ever".
ENDS
EDITORS NOTE: Video Usage Licence:(EXCLUSIVE) We have obtained an exclusive licence from the copyright holder. A copy of the licence is available on request.Video Restrictions: None.
A woman who was called “pizza face” by cruel tormentors has shared her “life-changing” journey to social media stardom, aiming to help others struggling.
Courtney Jones first developed acne at 15 years old, despite never having suffered from skin problems before.
The now 21-year-old content creator, 21, found herself housebound for months at a time after painful bouts of facial acne flared up and crushed her self-confidence.
Growing tired of the limitations her skin issues imposed, Courtney from Killamarsh, Sheffield, resolved to try to embrace her skin by taking to TikTok, where she soon gained 990,000 followers.
"It makes me feel uncomfortable going out in public because I feel like everyone is looking at me – it gets me down so much," she told http://NeedToKnow.co.uk."
Every time I look in the mirror I just want to cry because it seems like it’s never-ending.
"When I was at school people made a few comments about my acne.
"Someone once told me to go to the shops and get some face wash and cream, another person called me pizza face.
"Honestly, the people who don’t suffer from acne will not understand how draining it is and how low it gets you.
"When I started TikTok I got so much love and found a lot of people who were going through the exact same thing as me.
"It makes me feel like I’m not alone."
For Courtney, sharing her story online meant potentially opening herself up to more bullies but she says the idea of having a community to turn to kept her going.
But the trolls still come out of the woodwork.
She said: "Sometimes I can get hate comments where people will say horrible things to me in the, but 99% of it [my experience] is positive.
"I get hundreds of messages from others telling me how much I’ve helped them out and that they now they feel confident, and no longer care what others think.”
The social media star is also focused on showing skin differences for those who may not be used to seeing it in the media.
She wants to tackle the rise in skin-smoothing filters on social media and promote natural beauty instead.
Courtney said: "Having acne is rubbish but you have got to think it won’t last forever.
"Acne is so painful mentally and physically, which is why I wanted to embrace it on TikTok and normalise it so other people don’t feel like they are alone.
"Nowadays everyone uses all these filters to cover up real skin and real beauty."
As for her own journey, Courtney has been on 40mg of Accutane since May this year, which has seen her skin clear up dramatically, with four months of the treatment left to go.
She said: “I’ve been on this medication for nearly three months now and it’s going amazing, my skin is finally clearing up and I’m so much more confident in myself.
“I have had a few side effects, which are dry lips, nose bleeds, dry nose, and in the morning my eyes are stuck together.
“I also sometimes feel sick but so far so good!”
And her fans are along for the ride, with a recent clip getting 755,000 views and 67,000 likes.
Commenters were quick to share their amazement at the results of Courtney’s experience with Accutane, with some sharing their own struggles with acne.
Isabelle said: "I used to be on Accutane, best decision I ever made. So unbelievably happy for you.”
Nicole added: "Beautiful before and after".
Another person added: "Been here for a big part of your journey with fixing your acne, and I’m so so proud of you. thank you for sharing all these + & - moments, pretty". [sic]
Savannah added: "You are beautiful both ways, but I am so happy for you! You look so happy in the new photo".
Another person added: "I’m soo happy for you. You deserve to be free of the pain bless you thank you for being so transparent on your journey xx" [sic]
Lindsey wrote: "So happy for you! I went on it a few years ago and it never ever came back. Best decision ever".
ENDS
EDITORS NOTE: Video Usage Licence:(EXCLUSIVE) We have obtained an exclusive licence from the copyright holder. A copy of the licence is available on request.Video Restrictions: None.
A woman who was called “pizza face” by cruel tormentors has shared her “life-changing” journey to social media stardom, aiming to help others struggling.
Courtney Jones first developed acne at 15 years old, despite never having suffered from skin problems before.
The now 21-year-old content creator, 21, found herself housebound for months at a time after painful bouts of facial acne flared up and crushed her self-confidence.
Growing tired of the limitations her skin issues imposed, Courtney from Killamarsh, Sheffield, resolved to try to embrace her skin by taking to TikTok, where she soon gained 990,000 followers.
"It makes me feel uncomfortable going out in public because I feel like everyone is looking at me – it gets me down so much," she told http://NeedToKnow.co.uk."
Every time I look in the mirror I just want to cry because it seems like it’s never-ending.
"When I was at school people made a few comments about my acne.
"Someone once told me to go to the shops and get some face wash and cream, another person called me pizza face.
"Honestly, the people who don’t suffer from acne will not understand how draining it is and how low it gets you.
"When I started TikTok I got so much love and found a lot of people who were going through the exact same thing as me.
"It makes me feel like I’m not alone."
For Courtney, sharing her story online meant potentially opening herself up to more bullies but she says the idea of having a community to turn to kept her going.
But the trolls still come out of the woodwork.
She said: "Sometimes I can get hate comments where people will say horrible things to me in the, but 99% of it [my experience] is positive.
"I get hundreds of messages from others telling me how much I’ve helped them out and that they now they feel confident, and no longer care what others think.”
The social media star is also focused on showing skin differences for those who may not be used to seeing it in the media.
She wants to tackle the rise in skin-smoothing filters on social media and promote natural beauty instead.
Courtney said: "Having acne is rubbish but you have got to think it won’t last forever.
"Acne is so painful mentally and physically, which is why I wanted to embrace it on TikTok and normalise it so other people don’t feel like they are alone.
"Nowadays everyone uses all these filters to cover up real skin and real beauty."
As for her own journey, Courtney has been on 40mg of Accutane since May this year, which has seen her skin clear up dramatically, with four months of the treatment left to go.
She said: “I’ve been on this medication for nearly three months now and it’s going amazing, my skin is finally clearing up and I’m so much more confident in myself.
“I have had a few side effects, which are dry lips, nose bleeds, dry nose, and in the morning my eyes are stuck together.
“I also sometimes feel sick but so far so good!”
And her fans are along for the ride, with a recent clip getting 755,000 views and 67,000 likes.
Commenters were quick to share their amazement at the results of Courtney’s experience with Accutane, with some sharing their own struggles with acne.
Isabelle said: "I used to be on Accutane, best decision I ever made. So unbelievably happy for you.”
Nicole added: "Beautiful before and after".
Another person added: "Been here for a big part of your journey with fixing your acne, and I’m so so proud of you. thank you for sharing all these + & - moments, pretty". [sic]
Savannah added: "You are beautiful both ways, but I am so happy for you! You look so happy in the new photo".
Another person added: "I’m soo happy for you. You deserve to be free of the pain bless you thank you for being so transparent on your journey xx" [sic]
Lindsey wrote: "So happy for you! I went on it a few years ago and it never ever came back. Best decision ever".
ENDS
EDITORS NOTE: Video Usage Licence:(EXCLUSIVE) We have obtained an exclusive licence from the copyright holder. A copy of the licence is available on request.Video Restrictions: None.
