Negative perceptions about body image and fat shaming are prevalent issues affecting societies worldwide. Educating young people is a crucial step in combating these harmful beliefs.
Mahogany Geter, a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, suffers from lymphedema, a medical condition that causes excessive swelling in her leg due to lymph node removal or damage, according to Mayo Clinic. Despite her condition, Geter has faced ridicule and criticism on social media for not conforming to conventional beauty standards.
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Recently, Geter shared a video in response to these hurtful comments, highlighting the ignorance and cruelty of the attackers. This unfortunate incident sheds light on the importance of promoting body positivity and combatting the harmful effects of body shaming.
In a recent post, Mahogany shared some hurtful comments that have been made to her due to her condition, lymphedema. She revealed that people have suggested amputating her leg because it would supposedly look better.
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Despite the difficulty of dealing with such negativity, Mahogany has no choice but to rise above it. Fortunately, she finds comfort in the lymphedema community and her family, particularly her mother Timika Geter, who knows that her daughter is a beautiful person both inside and out. “It means I can try my best to inspire other people to accept themselves and see how beautiful they are.”
Mahogany Geter, an inspiring model, shared that talking to her mother helps her feel better when she’s feeling down. Mahogany refers to her mother as her therapist. Mahogany has been diagnosed with lymphedema since birth, a condition where excess fluids accumulate in the limbs due to blockage in the lymphatic system.
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Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for lymphedema, and it can progress into lymphangiosarcoma. Mahogany has always struggled with her self-image due to her condition, but she decided to view it as a test of her emotional strength. She used to feel cursed and ugly but now embraces her condition, believing that she can handle it.
“I used to think God had cursed me,” she said. “I felt ugly, like a freak of nature, and cried in private so many times. Then I decided that I was given this condition because I am emotionally strong and I can handle it. Since then, I have been learning to accept and celebrate myself.”
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Mahogany is currently using physiotherapy to improve her condition. In her free time, she likes to draw, listen to music, and make content for social media. However, dealing with flare-ups can be frustrating as it limits her ability to live her life freely. Despite this, she remains hopeful and dreams of purchasing a house for her mother while also raising awareness about lymphedema.
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