When Elliot Costello and a group of other people visited Cambodia, he had an encounter with a young girl named Thea.
Little did Elliot know that this encounter would have an impact so profound on him that it would help start a movement whose goal is to end sexual abuse against children.
Namely, Thea always had nail polish on her tiny nails. One day, as she and Elliot chatted, she asked to paint one of his nails. He agreed and was happy to speak to the chatty girl, but he then learned that she was once a victim of sexual abuse.
“As she painted one of my nails, I assured her I would always keep it that way to remember her, and by extension, her suffering,” Elliot said.
This motivated Elliot to try and make positive change among men so that less and less children fall victims of sexual abuse.
That is when he came up with the movement called #PolishedMan where men put nail polish on one of their nails. That one nail represents the one in five children who will be victims of sexual violence.
Polished Man works towards ending sexual violence against children. According to the organization, “being a Polished Man means challenging violent behavior and language, both locally and globally.”
Elliot believes that since men are responsible for 96% of this type of violence against children globally, they should be catalyst for change if we are ever to see an end to the abuse of innocent children.
The goal with the painted nail isn’t just to remind people of the number of children who are abused every single day, but to serve as a conversation starter about this reality, leading to new ideas about prevention. He also hopes that people will start donating to “support educational programs and resources for child survivors of abuse,” as per APlus.
We hope that more men, including celebrities would be willing to join this movement.
Woman Demands to Cancel Son’s Wedding after Recognizing Bride’s Father – Story of the Day
Fred and Alice’s wedding was moments away when Fred’s mother, Valerie, recognized Alice’s father, Felix, as a past one-night stand. Shocked, Valerie stopped the wedding, revealing that Fred and Alice could be half-siblings. Fred was furious and devastated, unsure how to proceed.
Valerie explained that years ago, during a breakup with Fred’s father, Walter, she had a brief fling with Felix. She feared Fred wasn’t Walter’s biological son. When Alice overheard, she collapsed in shock and insisted on canceling the wedding.
A DNA test later confirmed that Fred was indeed Walter’s son. Relieved, Fred and Alice eloped in Las Vegas, leaving the drama behind.
After their intimate Vegas wedding, Fred and Alice returned home, relieved to have left the chaos behind. They began their married life with a sense of newfound peace, thankful the DNA test had cleared up any doubts about their relationship. The couple hosted a small celebration with close family and friends to mark their union, but it was a far cry from the grand wedding they had originally planned.
Fred’s mother, Valerie, apologized again for the confusion, but Fred and Alice reassured her that everything worked out for the best. They spent the next few months adjusting to married life, grateful for the close bond with both families and the fresh start they had been given.
The drama of their disrupted wedding faded into the background, and they focused on building a future together, cherishing the new chapter that began in Vegas.
After their Vegas wedding, life settled into a comfortable rhythm for Fred and Alice, but family drama wasn’t completely behind them. A few months later, tensions arose between Valerie and Alice’s parents, Felix and Melinda. Valerie couldn’t quite shake the awkwardness of her past connection with Felix, and occasional awkward comments at family gatherings sparked discomfort.
Meanwhile, Alice’s mother, Melinda, started feeling uneasy about Valerie’s past with Felix, even though it was years ago. This led to subtle jabs and passive-aggressive remarks during family events, making holiday gatherings tense. Fred and Alice often found themselves playing peacemakers, trying to smooth over the lingering awkwardness.
On top of that, Walter—Fred’s father—began to feel somewhat sidelined after the DNA drama. Even though he’d been a dedicated father, he sometimes sensed that Felix’s presence in Fred’s life cast a shadow over their father-son bond. This led to moments of tension between Walter and Fred, as Walter grappled with lingering insecurities.
Despite the occasional family drama, Fred and Alice remained united, working through each issue as it came. They focused on creating their own family traditions, establishing healthy boundaries, and ensuring that the past didn’t overshadow their future.
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