Brave Woman Steps in Front of The Camera. Then Her Boyfriend Looks Down at Her Leg and Sees it…
As Meagan Barnard grew into adolescence, she developed lymphoedema, a condition that causes fluid retention and tissue swelling. Because she has up to five pints of excessive fluid in her right leg, Barnard was constantly bullied in school and was given horrible nicknames, like “Michelin Man.”
The embarrassed teen grew up refusing to wear clothing that revealed her leg. She lived in constant fear of ridicule. By the age of 24, her right leg swelled to more than twice its normal size. She even hid her right leg from her boyfriend! After dating for a while, he still had no idea that anything was wrong, thanks to “lots of closed doors, lots of lights off.”
In 2016 Meagan made the decision to go public with her lymphoedema. For the first time ever, she bravely bared her leg and stepped in front of the camera during a professional photo shoot. It was only then that her boyfriend saw her right leg and realized the shame she’d felt for the majority of her life. With a new outlook on life, Barnard is on a mission — and pursuing modeling — to encourage other young girls not to suffer in silence, and to accept themselves for the way they are. What a beautiful, strong, and inspiring person.
