The Women's Stories

Age: 47

I decided to volunteer my vagina in an act of empowerment and independence.

My marriage broke up two years ago, with my husband leaving me. It has only been in the last year that I have managed to rebuild my life and my self-esteem to the extent where I feel happier without him, and at the end of September I filed for divorce, much to my husband’s dismay.

I first saw Jamie’s unfinished work at Impure Art in April, and was, in equal measure, shocked and intrigued by it. Recently, with my divorce looming, I found myself thinking about it more and more.

The more I thought about it, the more I saw it as a fabulous opportunity for me to publicly and yet completely anonymously declare that I am free to do what I want, without needing approval from anyone except myself. And the subject matter-the most private area of my body-seemed so appropriate. I loved the suggestive naughtiness of it.

The actual process of creating the cast took about as long as a smear test, and was much less of an ordeal, with Jamie at the business end rearranging my bits to his satisfaction while telling me how he had broken his ribs falling off his bike.

The timing, coinciding almost exactly with my divorce, has made the experience a hugely empowering one. It marks the start of my new, independent life, where if I decide to have a cast of my fanny on an art gallery wall, I will. And I don’t need anyone else’s approval.

I have also ordered a mould for myself, so I will have the most original paperweight in the world. I will also never again be stuck for something to talk about at a party.

Thank you, Jamie. It’s been an absolute pleasure.