A woman has shared her experiences with fashion and her long-term health condition and battle with lipoedema.
Victoria Matos, 26, suffers from the disease which involves a build up of fat and connective tissue in the legs, hips and bottom. Because of this, she says finds it extremely tough and frustrating to find clothes to fit her thick thighs.
The model admitted: “Lipedema affects the way my body distributes itself, resulting in disproportionate fat accumulation in the legs and hips. This means that even if I lose weight, my legs remain with significant volume.”
She added, she feels ignored: “Unfortunately, the fashion industry seems to ignore people like me. Few brands really consider the needs of lipoedema sufferers.”
The influencer also highlighted the lack of clothing options which meet her specific needs. She continued: “Finding clothes that fit well and make me feel confident is a constant search.”
The social media model added: “I am often forced to choose pieces that are not really suitable for my body, which affects my self-esteem.”
Victoria believes people with lipedema deserve to feel beautiful and comfortable in their clothes. She said: “It’s not just about fashion, it’s about representation and acceptance. No brand thinks about us, and that needs to change.”
The model has previously revealed regretting having surgery for her big legs after being relentlessly bullied.
Victoria did everything she could to try and lose the weight but reached extreme tiredness.
She said: “I suffered a lot of bullying at school because of my legs, demands from my family, and I dedicated myself to exercising to lose weight.”
The lipoedema sufferer added: “Let’s push for change and make fashion truly inclusive.”
