Gaby Grant was just 14 years old when her topless photo was shared without her consent by a boy she had been chatting to online. Now 29, she has turned that traumatic experience into an opportunity for empowerment through her business, 'These Tits Are Mine'.
A Teenage Trauma
Growing up in North West London, Gaby described herself as a 'confident' and 'curious' teenager. She spent years blaming herself, convinced that her love of 'mini skirts and crop tops' or 'boy-obsessed mentality' was the reason why this happened to her. 'I would go to parties with people from different schools and boys would have my topless picture in their wank bank – everywhere I went, people called me a slut,' she recalls.
The Leak
Gifted a BlackBerry for her 13th birthday, Gaby connected with a boy named Ben*. After weeks of messaging, Ben relentlessly asked for naked pictures. Despite knowing it was a bad idea, Gaby finally conceded, taking a topless photo that included her face and the background of her room. Around two months later, she received a message on BBM from a boy at a different school: 'I've seen your t*ts, and so has everyone else.' The image had been widely circulated after Ben boasted about it at school, and another boy sent it to a group chat with 20 other boys from five different schools.
The Aftermath
Terrified to tell her parents and convinced her school could not help, Gaby became an instant target. People called her derogatory names and told her she had big nipples. She thought she deserved it. Even when she moved to Edinburgh to study art, the picture followed her. Londoners there had seen it, and even her cousin had been sent it.
Healing Through Art
Slowly, Gaby started to heal by using art to reclaim her body. In Edinburgh, she retook a topless pic and printed her body on a t-shirt for the first time. 'At the time I sort of didn't realise what I was doing. I didn't see it as an empowerment thing. But then I slowly realised it was my own way of taking ownership over my image that had been leaked all those years before.' People started telling her about their own traumas and asking to put their own t*ts on a t-shirt.
'These Tits Are Mine'
Now, while juggling a full-time job in advertising, Gaby is going full-steam ahead with her business. 'These Tits Are Mine' gives women the opportunity to buy their own custom titty and chest tees by sending in topless photos of themselves or taking one live at her pop-up photobooth. 'When my picture was shared, it felt like my t*ts belonged to everyone – but they're mine. I want everyone to feel like that,' she says.
How It Works
Customers can purchase a custom piece online using a Google form linked in the brand's Instagram bio, or by attending an event with the TTAM photo booth where their image is taken in real-time. Gaby takes protecting these images extremely seriously. 'We have vigorous terms and conditions for both myself and the customer. Part of this includes making sure that all of the images are handled by as few people as possible. Every piece is handprinted by myself and all images are wiped from all digital and non-digital sources as soon as a customer's order is produced.'
Eager to attend more events, particularly within queer and sex positive spaces, Gaby wants everyone to feel involved. 'At the end of the day, it's not a faceless pair of t*ts. And everyone who chooses to get their own, I commend them – I think everyone is so brave. The whole point of TTAM is to embrace your body, it's not about looking good, it's about feeling proud.'
