An NHS paramedic who posted a selfie online has been shamed for wearing a full face of makeup.
Laura Heath, 24, posted a picture of herself in her NHS uniform saying how "proud" she was to do her job, yet sadly many of the responses to her picture were abusive.
She posted to Twitter: "Proud to be a paramedic" alongside a love heart emoji and one that depicts a virus. And proud she should be given the current strain on the NHS due to COVID-19.
Advert
But due to Laura, who is from Staffordshire, wearing a full face of makeup, some of the responses she received were horrifying.
From creepy responses hitting on her to many others slamming that she's wearing makeup and that she was "the reason the death toll is rising," referring to the current coronavirus pandemic.
Although some of the negative tweets have since been deleted, one response sarcastically says: "Proud to be a heavily made up paramedic for this photo".
Advert
Another chimed in: "Wtf really (look at me I'm gorgeous an I work for the NHS) selfies for a few likes while people are dying smh".
A third added: "Pride is a sin and so is VANITY."
Another commented: "Seriously? I think that you've probably got better things to do than trout pout!"
We're not sure what makeup or pouting has to do with Laura doing her heroic job, tbh?
But whilst these are the only tweets still available, Laura explained to Tyla the other abuse she's received.
Advert
She said: "The unkind comments were mainly focused on my appearance and the fact I wear makeup.
"I was told I am the reason the death toll is rising [in reference to the coronavirus pandemic].
She continued: "[People said] that I'm a glorified first aider and it's ok for paramedics during this pandemic as we get to go home after dropping a patient off."
Laura added that she was told people 'would refuse to let her see to them if she shows up looking the way she does'.
Advert
It is enraging, when someone who does such a wonderful job day-to-day and for an organisation that is currently overstretched and facing chaos is receiving this kind of abuse online, purely because she wants to wear foundation to work? Many of us do wear makeup to our office jobs, so why Laura is 'not allowed' to do so whilst helping the NHS is baffling.
To top it off, she's also been told it's her own fault she's received abuse because of the way she looks.
Unsurprisingly, the comments have left her hurt.
Advert
She told Tyla: "The replies made me feel hurt and upset that people really think that shallow of me and judge my whole persona on one photograph.
"I've only been qualified for six months and I never thought I would me facing something of this magnitude.
"When I took this photo I was feeling really low - as I struggle with mental health."
She continued that she thinks people have missed the point and stereotyped her.
She said: "The only reason I can think of for not taking me seriously [is] because I'm young.
"The whole purpose of my post was to try and be a role model to young females who want to make a difference in the world and show that we can be on the frontline to[o]."
Well we think you're brilliant Laura. But we're shocked still that people in society can still be so narrow-minded as to think her wearing makeup can have any bearing on how she performs in her job and that to think her wearing it warrants creepy messages hitting on her.
Thankfully, Laura didn't only receive abuse. Others were quick to rush to her defence and praise her for her hard work during this tumultuous time.
One said: "Thank you for what you do! You look lovely btw, sad that so many people are threatened by attractive women who work in key roles".
Another added: "Go girl. Proud to be in the NHS. Proud to be part of the Ambulance Service. Ignore the haters. Do what you do. We're behind you."
A third commented: "I think she can wear makeup, do her hair & be a great paramedic all at once".
Someone else added: "The comments on here are disgusting & very disrespectful! A well worthy job that many of us may need at some point in our lives. #BeKindOrBeQuiet".
Lastly someone said: "Plenty of posts objectifying this woman, why can't we just appreciate her for all the hard work she does a a paramedic."
We're just glad that for every unkind comment she received, she's also been propped up by these other gushing comments and hopefully too, by the 8pm NHS clap last night in the UK - because you're a hero Laura, as is everyone in the NHS.
Featured Image Credit: Laura Heath/Twitter
