During a visit to Cambodia, Elliot Costello had an encounter with a young girl named Thea that would change his life forever and spark a movement aimed at ending sexual abuse against children.
Elliot didn’t know it at the time, but this meeting would have a profound impact. Thea, always wearing nail polish on her tiny nails, asked Elliot if she could paint one of his nails. He agreed, happy to chat with the lively girl, but then she shared something that shocked him — she had once been a victim of sexual abuse.
“As she painted one of my nails, I promised her that I would always keep it that way to remember her, and, by extension, the suffering she endured,” Elliot reflected.
This moment inspired Elliot to take action and create positive change. He wanted to make a difference in the way men think about and address sexual abuse, aiming to prevent more children from becoming victims.
Thus, the #PolishedMan movement was born. The concept is simple: men paint one of their nails as a symbol representing the one in five children who will suffer sexual violence. It’s a visual reminder and a way to start conversations about this critical issue.
Polished Man works toward ending child sexual violence by challenging harmful behaviors and language, both locally and globally. The organization believes that since men are responsible for 96% of the global sexual violence against children, they should be the driving force behind efforts to end this abuse.
The painted nail serves as a reminder of the daily reality faced by countless children, and it’s also a conversation starter to promote awareness and prevention. Elliot hopes that the movement will encourage people to donate to educational programs and resources that support child survivors of abuse.
Elliot’s vision is for more men, including high-profile figures and celebrities, to join the movement, amplifying the message and helping to end this cycle of violence.
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