Abbie Quinnen: Showing the world my scars has made me feel free
Abbie Quinnen has shown her burn scars in public for the first time by posing in a bikini on national TV.
The 23-year-old dancer – whose boyfriend is Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Pritchard – suffered third-degree burns in January after she caught fire when a TikTok "life hack" video went horribly wrong.
Quinnen joined TV presenter Katie Piper on Lorraine to talk to fellow burn survivors about how they had learned to live with their scars.
Read more: Katie Piper reveals why she has empathy for trolls following online abuse
Donning a bikini beside the outdoor pool Quinnen said: "I'm actually feeling free. I've never showed my scars to anyone apart from AJ and my family.
'I am showing the world my scars... and I'm feeling so positive!'
Watch the powerful moment @KatiePiper_ helped @AbbieQuinnen to find the confidence to share her scars with the world ➡️ https://t.co/9uTftzrSKx pic.twitter.com/a3wDGJh9hZ— Lorraine (@lorraine) June 16, 2021
"I'm so pleased that I got out there – I am showing the world my scars. This is the first time ever and I'm feeling so positive."
Model Piper, 37, became a body positivity and mental health campaigner after she was the victim of an acid attack by an ex-boyfriend in 2008.
Watch: Abbie Quinnen shows how her burns are healing
Quinnen told viewers about her extreme treatment routine to help her burns heal, which involves massaging plenty of moisturiser into her scars and wearing a compression vest for 23 hours a day.
The dancer admitted she has had hard days over the past six months when she struggled to feel positive about her recovery.
She said: "I think when it happened I was just thinking the worst, 'my face is never going to look the same again, I'm always going to have scars on my body'.
“I'm never going to be able to dance or perform and do what I love doing, so I instantly thought that was it for me. Luckily my face is healing really well.”
Quinnen was burned on her face, neck, arm and torso after her hair and clothes caught fire. She was rushed to hospital and underwent skin grafts to treat the severe damage.
Read more: AJ Pritchard admits being traumatised by girlfriend Abbie Quinnen's accident
The life hack she and Pritchard, 26, were attempting to recreate for their Instagram accounts involves cutting a wine bottle in half using string dipped in flammable liquid, wrapped around the bottle and then set alight.