Amelia Bonnici went viral after sharing a TikTok video in which she shows her legs. The 22-year-old influencer suffers from lipedema.
According to the Lipedema Institute, lipedema affects about 10% of the female population worldwide and causes disordered growth of fatty tissue, meaning a fat that grows rapidly and disproportionately.
Disproportionate legs compared to the torso is just one of the symptoms. These women suffer from pain, heaviness in the legs, swelling, frequent bruising, and difficulty losing weight in the legs, which does not respond to diet and exercise as the rest of the body does.
Bonnici shared that she was diagnosed at 17, but had always noticed a difference in her legs compared to the rest of her body. “Classmates in school would comment on how big I was and how much cellulite I had on my legs. As a 15 or 16-year-old girl, this really destroyed me,” she explained to The New York Post.
“When I was diagnosed, it was a bittersweet relief. I finally had an answer as to why my body was like this. Now I knew I wasn’t punishing myself for no reason, and that this would now be a lifelong battle to manage the condition.”
“When I stopped going to the gym, I realized my body stayed pretty much the same, but my mind was relieved because I had finally stopped fighting against myself and who I was,” Amelia said.
“I think the biggest turning point was when I realized I had been punishing my body and mind for no reason. It was a big full-circle moment because I finally felt proud of my body for carrying me through all this for so long.”
Today, she uses her social media to inspire other women and talk about lipedema and endometriosis. “Many women and girls have thanked me for raising awareness and helping them feel more comfortable with their bodies,” she explained.
“Many girls have sent me messages with their stories. One girl said that she finally felt confident in her body now, which almost made me cry.”
@millyy.gracee I really outted myself here lol 🥲dreaming of that porsche still♬ original sound – millyy.gracee
Photo and video: TikTok @milyy.gracee. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
