Georgia May Jagger has lent her pout to a charity selfie campaign urging women to attend smear tests.
The supermodel shared a sultry lipstick selfie with the raspberry stain smeared across her cheek as part of the #SmearForSmear campaign and nominated Suki Waterhouse and Cara Delevingne to follow suit.
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust launched the campaign to urge women to attend screening appointments after figures revealed that more than one million didn’t attend in 2013-2014 and incidence of cervical cancer rose among women under 35.
Robert Music, chief executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: Every day we see the devastating impact a cervical cancer diagnosis can have on both a woman and her loved ones.
“But to know that for those that delayed their screening before diagnosis, this could have prevented, is tragic.
“It’s now time that we see an upward shift in awareness of cervical cancer and an understanding of the importance of smear tests.”
Have you spotted our posters in the ladies’? Snap a picture & share to help raise awareness! #SmearForSmear #CCPW pic.twitter.com/okJItT5par — Jo’s Trust (@JoTrust) January 22, 2015
Launched at the start of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (January 25-31) the trust is inviting the public to take their own selfies and share them on Twitter.
A charity survey revealed reasons young women gave for not attending appointments included seeing it as an unnecessary health test, concerns it would be painful and embarrassing.
Professor Julietta Patnick is director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, managed by Public Health England (PHE).
She said: “It is evident that women in this younger age group still need encouragement to be screened and PHE is working hard to address this with research underway to investigate new ways of improving cervical screening uptake among younger women.
“Regular attendance at screening remains the top preventative measure against cervical cancer and we should encourage all women to make the decision to attend when invited.”
#SmearForSmear now to raise awareness of the importance of attending your #smeartest & nominate your friends pic.twitter.com/v2UCF0HTM1
— Jo’s Trust (@JoTrust) January 25, 2015
Mr Music added: We hope the public get fully behind this fun and simple campaign.
“The more women who take this life-saving five minute test the fewer who face infertility, early menopause, more extensive long-term effects and potentially even loss of life.
“It’s time we all acted as it may just save a life.”
Featured picture courtesy of Georgia May Jagger, with thanks
