How One Painted Nail Sparked a Global Movement to Protect Children
In 2013, Australian social entrepreneur Elliot Costello met a young girl named Thea while visiting an orphanage in Cambodia. Just 10 years old, Thea had survived profound trauma—losing her father and enduring abuse in the very place meant to protect her. Yet despite everything, she radiated kindness and resilience. One night, during a quiet moment of connection, she painted one of Elliot’s fingernails.
It was a playful, simple act—but for Elliot, it became a powerful symbol. He made a silent vow: he would always keep that nail painted in her honor. That moment with Thea became the catalyst for Polished Man, a global movement Elliot later founded. The campaign invites men to paint a single fingernail, representing the 1 in 5 children worldwide who experience sexual violence before the age of 18.
What began as a tribute to one child grew into a bold statement—challenging toxic silence and inspiring men to take…
