Smeared lipstick selfies sweep social media for cervical cancer campaign

IT’S the latest selfie trend spreading across social media. But will the smudged makeup trend endorsed by Rita Ora et al be the next ice bucket challenge?

Why is everyone smearing their lipstick?

IT’S the latest selfie-for-a-good-cause trend spreading across social media.

This time, women are smearing their lipstick to raise awareness about cervical cancer.

Celebrities including Rita Ora and Georgia May Jagger have shared photos of their smudged lippie in support of the trend. Even Stephen Fry tweeted his encouragement, although, disappointingly, without a photo.

The idea of the campaign, started by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust in the UK, is to encourage more women to get potentially life-saving Pap smears.

Social media users are encouraged to take a photo of themselves with smeared lipstick, add the hashtag #SmearForSmear, and nominate a friend.

Such campaigns have proved startlingly effective over the past few years, with #nomakeupselfies for cancer proving a lasting trend, and the ALS ice bucket challenge raising more than $100 million for motor neuron disease.

Will the smeared lipstick campaign have the same power, and remind women to get checked?

All women between the ages of 18 and 70 who have ever been sexually active should be screened every two years. The death rates from cervical cancer in Australia have halved since the National Cervical Screening Program began in 1991, with just 818 new cases diagnosed in 2010.

#SmearForSmear help prevent cervical cancer i don't do awareness posts, but cancer hits close to home. pic.twitter.com/EnLf4gZSAx

— caitlyn୭ (@caitlynstanescu) January 25, 2015

We're supporting @JoTrust #smearforsmear for #ccpw @irwinmitchell I nominate @helenbradymua pic.twitter.com/x4ibROd1K2

— Laura Ralfe (@lauramarie1001) January 25, 2015

Step 1. Apply. Step 2. Smear. Helping raise awareness of cervical cancer with @JoTrust. #SmearForSmear pic.twitter.com/an3dXTQxni

— Duns (@DunsOnTheRun) January 25, 2015

Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by the HPV infection. Around eight out of 10 women will become infected with genital HPV at some time in their lives but most never get cervical cancer. The other main risk factor is smoking.

#SmearForSmear encourages Twitter, Instagram and Facebook users to snap a selfie and nominate friends.

While it has inevitably come in for criticism, many women across the globe are too busy working on the perfect lipstick smear to listen.

Attend your smear, reduce your risk @JoTrust #SmearForSmear sign the petition to lower the age http://t.co/cbYVRZIjBY pic.twitter.com/OQ8xJ9PPjS

— Mandip Gill (@MandipGill) January 25, 2015

Supporting Cervical Cancer Awareness! Book that smear test ladies! Only takes a few mins. #SmearForSmear @JoTrust pic.twitter.com/kRUMWFkrMs

— designrach (@designrach) January 25, 2015

Gents support the ladies you love #smearforsmear @RepublicofEvry1 @Sham_Bodie @ChiefTV or text "CCPW01 £5" to 70070 pic.twitter.com/sxs6JGBKr5

— Ben Akers (@BenAkers) January 25, 2015