#62 Body Image, Identity, and Healing After Cancer with Vikki Feltham

If you LOVE Embody Your Empress, click here to support us - buymeacoffee.com/EmbodyYourEmpress In this deeply human and powerful episode of Embody Your Empress, Sarah King is joined by Vikki Feltham, a visible difference advocate, cancer survivor, and young mum whose life was radically reshaped after being diagnosed with head and neck cancer at just 34. What began as persistent nosebleeds turned into a diagnosis that would not only save her life through treatment, but permanently change her face, her voice, and her identity. Vikki speaks openly about living without a nose, losing her ability to speak during radiation, navigating motherhood while undergoing brutal treatment, and the profound emotional impact of seeing a stranger in the mirror. This conversation goes far beyond cancer recovery. Together, Sarah and Vikki explore what happens when your appearance changes in a way the world can't ignore. They talk about body image, shame, visibility, intimacy, and how identity is often unconsciously tied to how we look, how we're perceived, and how acceptable we feel in public spaces. Vikki shares the rarely discussed reality of head and neck cancer, an area that affects thousands each year yet remains largely invisible in mainstream conversations, especially for young women and mothers. She speaks candidly about being dismissed in healthcare, rebuilding confidence after months of hiding, and learning to meet people's eyes again when difference becomes the first thing others see. This episode also dives into: Motherhood and maintaining connection when your body is breaking down Intimacy and self-worth after illness and physical change Personal development beyond surface level practices Learning to become the main character in your own life after trauma Choosing visibility without pity or pedestal Vikki's story is not about "overcoming" or performing resilience. It is about living fully, honestly, and visibly in a changed body, and reclaiming identity on her own terms. This is a conversation for anyone who has ever felt unseen, dismissed, disconnected from who they once were, or unsure how to step forward after life has reshaped them. About the Guest Vikki Feltham is a visible difference advocate, cancer survivor, and host of the Nobody Nose Podcast. After surviving head and neck cancer, Vikki uses her voice and lived experience to challenge how society views facial difference, illness, and identity. Her work centres on representation without pity or pedestal, reminding us that facial difference is not something to cope with or overcome, but one part of a full, proud life. Through advocacy, speaking, and storytelling, Vikki creates space for honest conversations around visibility, self-worth, and dignity. TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@vikkidotcom Podcast https://www.nobodynosepodcast.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikkifeltham About Your Host Sarah King is the founder of Empress Nation and host of Embody Your Empress. Sarah works with high-achieving, spiritually curious women who appear to have it all together yet feel exhausted, disconnected, or emotionally weighed down. Through energetic healing, intuitive guidance, and deeply human conversations, Sarah helps women come back home to themselves so they can live, lead, and love with calm, clarity, and inner authority. Embody Your Empress is a space for real conversations that blend embodiment, healing, self-worth, and lived experience without over-spiritualising or bypassing the human experience. Empress Nation Links Website https://empressnation.au Instagram https://www.instagram.com/empress_nation_/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@empress_nation_ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EmpressNationSarahKing LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/empressnation/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@empress_nation-SarahKing Podcast on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6hUQy0jpS5T22fdhw6PgDO