A campaign established by the nonprofit group YGAP is hoping to raise child abuse awareness by painting one's fingernails — and it is specifically targeting the male population to join the cause.

YGAP's CEO Elliot Costello first had the idea after meeting a Cambodian 10-year-old girl in 2013 who was abused at an orphanage. "Thea picked up a blue marker and colored in all of my nails," said Costello, according to Take Part. "After learning of her story, I was moved by her ordeal, but more so by the love she still had in her heart and the pride she had for her future."

Returning to his native Melbourne, Australia, Costello decided to establish Polished Man with the idea of using nail polish on men as a conversation starter for child abuse. Since then, the campaign has drawn a host of male celebrity endorsers from Australia's sports, TV and radio industries.

Soon after, the campaign reached celebrities across the United States. Actor Alec Baldwin, chef Mario Batali and Tony Richardson from the New York Jets were photographed with blue-painted finger nails, according to Pop Sugar.

Non-celebrities are also participating in the campaign, especially with October being National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, according to Cheat Sheet. On Instagram, men are sharing photos of their polished nails using the hashtag #polishedmen.

"Our hope is to create a global movement that will lead change in the conversation about what it means to be a man," said Costello, according to Today. "By supporting positive male role models who support equality and the rights of a child, we can create a community of male change-makers."

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.