Mahogany Geter is suffering from a medical condition called lymphedema due to which her left leg weighs 7 stone. Due to her unique situation, the young woman has been a victim of bullying and online abuse. But Mahogany knows she cannot let bullies get in her way of life and currently she is living her life promoting her content and raising awareness about her condition on her TikTok and Instagram accounts.
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Mahogany Geter, 24, from Knoxville, Tennessee is a woman who has faced all kinds of abuse and bullying when it comes to her unique physical feature. The young woman has been told by trolls on social media that it would be better if she cuts off her 7-stone leg because it would look better. However, Mahogany is not the one to get afraid of these bullies and is proud of her leg.
The young woman was born with lymphedema, a long-term condition where excess fluid collects in the body’s soft tissue, which causes swelling on her left leg.
TikTok
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Cruel people mock Mahogany with comments telling her to “amputate her leg so she will look better” but she has learned to ignore them.
Brutal trolls call her deformed and compare her disability to a ham roll. However, Mahogany does not let these trolls get to her.
TikTok
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Mahogany said: “I have had my fair share of ignorant comments, one person told me my leg looked like a ham roll and one girl at school called me a deformed b*tch. It has been so hard to rise above these mean people but I have no other choice.
“For the longest I felt so low about myself but once I got older and with loads of support from the online lymphedema community and my mum who is my inspiration, she is so strong, I realised how beautiful I am. Not only looks but as a person.
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“It means I can try my best to inspire other people to accept themselves and see how beautiful they are.”
The bullying started young for Mahogany and it really affected her confidence and self-esteem, but she says she is “beautiful inside and out.”
The fashion model now proudly shows off her disability with empowering photoshoots on Instagram, as well as on her YouTube channel and TikTok.
"People have been so nice and supportive of me online. It isn’t all trolling and negativity. I have met so many people online who keep me company on this health journey I am on," she added.
Mahogany was diagnosed with this condition shortly after her birth after her mom noticed the difference in her left leg.
Currently, in the medical world, there is no cure for this condition and excess fluid builds in Mahogany’s leg can only be eased with physiotherapy and lymphatic drainage massage.
At its largest, Mahogany's leg adds 100lb (7 stone) to her 300lb (21 stone) total body weight.
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Mahogany, the eldest of three sisters, said: “My mum was so worried when I was diagnosed but we have got through everything together.
"As a child I never felt pretty, I used to think God had cursed me. 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.
TikTok
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“I want to inspire other people to celebrate their differences. I now believe I am beautiful on the inside and out. I’m proud of what my body can do.”
Mahogany likes to stay active with physiotherapy and is well known for her content on her TikTok and Instagram page lymph.goddess23.
She said: “I’m not currently working as I am focusing on getting my leg better. I spend a lot of time drawing, listening to music and posting content on my YouTube channel.”
Mahogany manages her health through routine massage, compression dressings, and physiotherapy.
She also drinks lots of water to flush out her system and has to avoid salty foods and alcohol.
Apart from taking care of her health, Mahogany also suffers from flare-ups of cellulitis - a painful skin infection caused by the swelling which often leaves her hospitalized for treatment with antibiotics.
TikTok
Mahogany said: “It does get frustrating dealing with flare ups because I just want to live my life more freely and it feels like I can’t.
“If I don’t keep on top of my condition I get flare ups, it can be overwhelming.
"When I feel low I take steps now to build myself up. I take a break from social media, I listen to music, meditate and definitely talk to my mother because she’s like my therapist.”
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Mahogany added: “Despite the hard times I honestly feel like I live a normal life. I try to be strong and stay focused on my dreams of making it as a model.
“If I ever make it big I want to buy my mother a house and take care of my family, then I’ll do everything I can to raise awareness of lymphedema to pay it back to everyone who has ever shown me kindness.”
Instagram