In 2013, Australian social entrepreneur Elliot Costello visited a Cambodian orphanage and met a 10-year-old girl

named Thea. Despite her traumatic past, having lost her father and suffered abuse in the orphanage,

Thea’s resilience and joy left a lasting impact on Elliot. During their time together, Thea painted

one of Elliot’s nails, prompting him to make a silent promise to honor her story and the suffering of millions of children.

This moment sparked the creation of Polished Man, a global awareness campaign encouraging men to paint one

nail as a symbol of solidarity with the one in five children worldwide who experience sexual violence before

the age of 18. The initiative aims to raise awareness, fund prevention, and support recovery programs for survivors.

Celebrities like Chris Hemsworth, Zac Efron, and Kelly Slater helped amplify the campaign, which has since raised $8.7 million

for trauma recovery, education, and protective measures for at-risk children. Through Polished Man, Elliot continues to honor

Thea’s story, reminding the world that small acts, like painting a nail, can spark profound change and help create a safer future for children everywhere.