If you’ve ever felt anxious about the way your vulva looks, you’re not alone. Recent research from Women’s Health Victoria shows that almost one in four women aged 18-24 feels anxious, embarrassed, or unhappy about the appearance of their labia.

This growing insecurity is also fueling one of the fastest-growing cosmetic trends in Australia: labiaplasty. One in ten women surveyed—equivalent to more than half a million women—has either undergone or considered labiaplasty. For Gen Z, this shame is particularly heightened, with 35% of young people associating their labia with negative words like “weird,” “disgusting,” or “ugly.” And it can have a detrimental impact on women’s health, with 43% reporting that shame around their labia had stopped them from seeing a doctor for sexual or reproductive health issues.

These statistics are heartbreaking but not surprising. I’ve experienced this myself stemming from comments in the schoolyard. The research highlights the need for better education of Australian GPs on labia diversity and a more inclusive relationship and sexual education in all schools – and why a project like Flip Through My Flaps: An Exploration of The Vulva is so needed right now.

Why This Book Matters

Flip Through My Flaps is more than just a coffee table book. It’s a visual and emotional invitation to rewrite the stories we’ve been told about our bodies. Featuring over 500 photographs and personal stories, it celebrates the beauty of vulvas in every size, shape, and texture. It’s here to tell every person who’s ever felt “less than” that there’s no such thing as a “normal” vulva—and that every body is worthy of love and acceptance.

In a world where 19% of Gen Zs are turning to porn for ideas of what their genitals “should” look like, and nearly a third are influenced by social media, it’s more important than ever to create positive, real representations of body diversity. We need to push back against these harmful narratives that teach us our bodies are something to be fixed.

Breaking the Cycle of Shame

The research also reveals that 57% of people experiencing labia anxiety report impacts on their mental health, and 62% have avoided sex due to their shame. This isolation and self-rejection are exactly what Flip Through My Flaps aims to disrupt. By showing the diversity of vulvas and sharing real, unfiltered stories, this book invites readers to feel seen, celebrated, and empowered in their own skin.

It’s time to break the cycle of shame that holds us back. We owe it to ourselves—and each other—to stop measuring our worth by impossible standards.

With Flip Through My Flaps, I hope to spark conversations that are long overdue—conversations about pleasure, health, acceptance, and the power of embracing every part of ourselves.

Because when we love our bodies unapologetically, we reclaim our joy, our agency, and our lives.

You are enough, exactly as you are. And your vulva is perfect, just the way it is.