For Lipoedema Awareness month, we hosted a very special photoshoot for women with Lipoedema. We photographed eleven women from Queensland ranging in age and stages of Lipoedema. Many of these women confessed they were nervous to participate as they spend their lives trying to hide their legs, with some of their partners not even seeing their bare legs for decades. These women have bravely participated in the Lipoedema Awareness Photoshoot, despite all their fears, simply for the purpose of helping other women with Lipoedema to get better help. Our goal is to celebrate these women! In our photoshoot we aimed to provide them with a space where they could feel nurtured, safe, glamorous and beautiful – because they are! Please keep reading to learn more about these amazing women.
Charlotte
“Surround yourself with strong women that lift you up, and make you feel good about yourself” What do your friends call you? Char When did you first suspect you had Lipoedema? I first suspected I had Lipoedema when fellow lippy sister Riley Hemson posted on social media about her diagnosis, and I realised what I’d been feeling for years wasn’t “normal”. What’s your best Lipoedema tip? My best tip for Lipoedema is to surround yourself with strong women that lift you up and make you feel good about yourself every day. Having a strong army around you to support you through both the good times and the tough times! read more
Cinamon
“You are worthy of love, support and treatment.” What do your friends call you? Friends call me Cin. They also call me BEAUTIFUL followed by INSPIRATIONAL, gutsy, and a bonus from my bestie – resourceful. When did you first suspect you had Lipoedema? It wasn’t until my late 40s that I knew something was wrong with my legs. Looking back this condition was noticeable in my early teens around puberty with heavy thighs and tree trunk legs. I was told I was just fat. I spent 30 years dysfunctional eating and hating my body. My father always called me “Ten-Ton Tessie” and that was devastating. It still haunts me to this day and I suffer with severe body dysmorphia. read more
Jodie
“Look after yourself, and treat yourself right” What do your friends call you? My friends call me Jodz. When did you first suspect you had Lipoedema? I first suspected I had Lipoedema in December 2020. What words of support or hope can you share with women living with Lipoedema? Just because you have this diagnosis and certain things may or may not happen to you, don’t give up!! Look after yourself, and treat yourself right. Eat the foods that are good for this disease, and love and care for yourself and know that your body is still amazing. And push through all the hard things as best as you can. read more
Katie
“One bad day doesn’t mean it won’t get better” What do your friends call you? Katie. When did you first suspect you had Lipoedema? I read something about Lipoedema in 2015 and started asking questions from then on. What words of support or hope can you share with women living with Lipoedema? Don’t hate yourself. You didn’t choose this disease, it chose you. Learn your own body, what triggers flare ups, your best nutrition to fuel your body and learn to love yourself because you are amazing. read more
Lyneshia
“Love yourself, have self-respect and it isn’t your fault” What do your friends call you? My friends call me Neisha. What words of support or hope can you share with women living with Lipoedema? My words of support for others with Lipoedema is to love yourself, have self respect and know that this isn’t your fault. What’s your best Lipoedema tip? Don’t use Lipoedema as an excuse to not go swimming, to not wear togs, to not go to the beach and to not laugh and enjoy your life. read more
Sharon
When did you first suspect you had Lipoedema? 2 years ago What words of support or hope can you share with women living with Lipoedema? Conservative measurements help so don’t give up! You’re not alone. Your legs may be big, but they carry you everywhere. Awareness of this disease is spreading fast so hopefully the next generation won’t suffer like us, it will be caught and treated early, and hopefully paid for by Medicare. read more.
Sue
“Learn to LOVE your legs who carry a bigger burden than others” When did you first suspect you had Lipoedema? In 1981, when I was 18 years old, and a co-worker asked WHY I had a small waist but large hips and legs. I didn’t find out why until 38 years later in 2019 when I was diagnosed. What words of support or hope can you share with women living with Lipoedema? After 45 years of questioning my body and experiencing excruciating pain in my legs, I was banging on Doctor’s desks demanding answers, as my body was getting worse. At my first diagnosis of Lipoedema, the nurse came close to me and whispered, “your body shape is not your fault”. read more
Renaye
“We are all beautiful” What words of support or hope can you share with women living with Lipoedema? We are all beautiful!!! What’s your favourite self-care tip? MLD routine, infrared sauna, compression suit & vibration platform. What do you wish you knew at the beginning of your Lipoedema journey? Wearing compression garments earlier. read more
Shelly
“You are not a failure. Your body has not failed you.” What do your friends call you? Shelly. When did you first suspect you had Lipoedema? I didn’t. I was fortunate enough to have a phenomenal female GP who when I complained about the fat in my legs hurting, took one look and KNEW it was Lipoedema and sent me to see Dr Lekich. What words of support or hope can you share with women living with Lipoedema? My diagnosis answered so many questions I had about my body for my whole life. You are not a failure. Your body has not failed you. You are just a Lipoedema warrior and as a woman, you’ve got this! read more
Suzie
“Stop looking at the number on the scale” What do your friends call you? Suzie. When did you first suspect you had Lipoedema? I first suspected I had it after having lost a large amount of weight with very little movement on the lower part of my body. When I look back over the years I believe it started to develop at about 15/16. What words of support or hope can you share with women living with Lipoedema? Stop looking at the number of the scale. For years this was my focus and as a lippy warrior and thanks to Dr Lekich I have learnt that the number on the scale is false. Whilst the scales will show my overall body weight it is not a true indication of what weight I can ACTUALLY loose through diet and exercise. read more
Vesna
“Most people don’t even know what Lipoedema is” What do your friends call you? Ves What’s your favourite self-care tip? Lower leg and foot massages work wonders. What’s something that people often don’t know about Lipoedema? Many people don’t even know what Lipoedema is and once you tell them they are blown away by just how debilitating this disease can be. read more