Why You Might Start Seeing Women Upload Pictures Online With Smeared Lipstick

You may start to see women upload photos online with smeared lipstick.

The reason? It's part of a new campaign called #SmearforSmear, aimed at raising awareness as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month concludes.

Decidi borrar meu batom por uma boa causa! !! "Segundo a sociedade americana do câncer, nos últimos 30 anos, a taxa de mortalidade por câncer do colo do útero tem caído mais de 50 por cento, devido ao aumento do uso do exame Papanicolau." #Smearforsmear #JosCervicalCancerTrust #womenUnite #GetTested #SaveLives #Awareness #Prevetion #Lipstick #red #smear #selfie

A photo posted by Danni Ayu (@ayumihachi) on Jan 29, 2015 at 8:14pm PST

Started by the U.K. group Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, the campaign highlights the importance of women getting smear tests. According to the organization, such tests save thousands of lives each year.

The campaign works by asking individuals to share a photo, then nominate friends to do the same.

Cervical Cancer Campaign #smearforsmear @JoTrust I nominate @sukiwaterhouse @caradelevingne @jasminebydesign

A photo posted by Georgia May Jagger (@georgiamayjagger) on Jan 27, 2015 at 6:46am PST

“My sister Natasha Porter beat cervical cancer and will be three years all clear in May," participant and actress Kirsty-Leigh Porter said. "I can't stress how important it is for girls to attend a smear test. It saved my sister’s life. It could save theirs.”

Ladies, please pay more attention to your health conditions. #smearforsmear

A photo posted by Yanxi Ji (@jassyji) on Jan 29, 2015 at 7:59pm PST

Cervical Cancer campaign #smearforsmear I nominate @raaeecake @jupiterloveee_

A photo posted by Amber Binford (@_b_r_f_) on Jan 29, 2015 at 7:23pm PST

The campaign received a major boost in momentum when supermodel Georgia May Jagger published a photo to Instagram, showing her with red smeared lipstick.

(H/T: Mashable)

—

Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter