Alexsandro Palombo Pictures how Disney Princesses would look with mastectomy scars for BCAM

Italian artist Alexsandro Palombo has created a special series of paintings in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in which he reimagines iconic animation characters as breast cancer survivors.

Breast cancer can strike any woman, of any age, and Italian artist Alexsandro Palombo has brought the message home with a thought-provoking series of illustrations which depict the always perfect Disney Princesses and other animated characters proudly bearing the scars of mastectomies.

Palombo is known for his sometimes controversial use of iconic images from pop culture, and fairy tales to call public attention to serious social problems that afflict women.

SURVIVOR

Palombo's series of illustrations show the Disney Princesses and other high-profile animated women like Marge Simpson, Betty Boop, Olive Oil, Wonder Woman, Jessica Rabbit, Wilma Flintstone, and Lois Griffin from "Family Guy" surmounted by the title "SURVIVOR."

The Disney Princesses have become part of the imaginary world of every little girl, and Palombo's work brings home the message that breast cancer can touch every life.

The message hits hard and underlines the purpose of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to Cancer.Org, breast cancer is the most common cancer which afflicts American women -- over 270,000 a year -- and is likely to be diagnosed in 1 in every 8 women over the course of their lifetime.

For women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, a lumpectomy, and often a mastectomy is essential to save their lives, and the illustrations show the Disney Princesses flashing a victory sign, displaying scars from double or single mastectomies.

His Disney Princesses with their brave scars will help little girls everywhere look at their survivor mothers like the heroes they are

Shocking as it is, at first sight, to see Princess Aurora with suture scars on her chest, or Princess Ariel with a line of sutures where her left breast would have been, and a pink ribbon on her remaining breast, it sends a strong message.

Palomo's message is directed at women and girls around the world: what matters is survival, and breasts don't make a Princess. Palomo's Princesses are proud and courageous, and unashamed.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Another of Palomo's campaigns targetted violence against women and featured the battered, swollen faces of famous, powerful women on street posters denouncing domestic violence.

The posters were pasted all over Milan, Italy, and show, among other high-profile women, former US First Lady Michelle Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Domestic violence is thought to affect 1 in 4 women, and is one of the most underreported crimes, with women from all walks of life -- young, old, rich or poor -- as victims, too ashamed to admit they are victims.

Also, as a response to the Black Lives Matter movement, Palomo reinvented the famously yellow and quintessential all-American family, "The Simpsons," as African Americans facing the challenges of institutionalized racism.

Palomo is now directing his acerbic brush towards yet another cause, Breast Cancer Awareness, and maybe his Disney Princesses with their brave scars will help little girls everywhere look at their survivor mothers like the heroes they are.