Woman Who Felt 'Ugly' as a Child Is Now the First Model with a 100-Pound Leg

A young woman faced a challenging lifelong condition that caused one of her legs to be much larger than the other. Despite this, she was resolute in her determination to succeed. With her inner strength and her mother's unwavering support, she has carved a successful modeling career and learned to take pride in her differences.

In 2021, Mahogany Geter, hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee, became an online sensation as she courageously shared her message of body positivity despite grappling with a painful illness. The then-23-year-old woman, a shining example of self-acceptance, emphasized the importance of being comfortable in one's skin.

Living with lymphedema in one of her legs, Mahogany faced the challenges of fluid buildup, leading to significant swelling. While not in constant pain, she perpetually felt the weight of the condition, making her movements cumbersome. Her extra weight limited her mobility, making her journey even more challenging.

Living with Lymphedema

Although the entire left side of her body was affected, her leg bore the brunt of the condition. Thus, Mahogany had to teach herself to live with one giant leg. Diagnosed shortly after birth, she had no choice but to cope with the pain, as there was no cure.

Mahogany faced numerous challenges as she endured stares and unkind remarks.

Her leg added 100 pounds to her 300 pounds total body weight at its peak. To minimize the swelling, she adhered to a routine of physiotherapy and lymphatic drainage massages. Her mother, Timika Geter, recalled how doctors recognized something different in Mahogany from her footprint marks at birth.

Her leg's abnormal growth and length posed additional obstacles, but Mahogany's determination and her mother's unwavering support enabled her to face these challenges with grace and resilience.

Besides physiotherapy and massages, Mahogany managed her condition through compression dressings, staying hydrated, and avoiding salty foods and alcohol. Unfortunately, she experienced flare-ups of cellulitis, a painful skin infection caused by the swelling, which often led to hospitalization for antibiotic treatment.

Reflecting on her challenges, Mahogany admitted, "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. 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."

Facing Criticisms

Mahogany faced numerous challenges as she endured stares and unkind remarks, particularly during her childhood. She revealed, "I've been through a very depressed state because you're a little kid, and you have a bunch of grown adults staring at you." The impact on her mental and emotional well-being was significant.

Despite cruel trolls attempting to mock her with hurtful comments, including suggestions to amputate her leg, Mahogany learned to ignore them. She recalled enduring ignorant remarks, like comparisons to a "ham roll," and being called derogatory names by her schoolmates. Rising above the negativity was difficult, but Mahogany had no choice.

She found strength with immense support from the online lymphedema community and her inspirational mother. Mahogany shared, "For the longest I felt so low about myself but once I got older and with loads of support... I realized how beautiful I am, not only looks but as a person." Embracing her beauty and inner strength, she aimed to inspire others to accept themselves.

Over time, she started keeping herself busy with healthy activities, including content creation on social media platforms, garnering an impressive fanbase. A YouTube video featuring the young woman has amassed more than 10 million views and counting.

Carving a Career Path

In 2017, Mahogany embarked on her modeling journey after a photographer spotted her at the self-checkout station in Walmart. After contemplating the opportunity, she embraced her body, hoping her courage would inspire others. "I was like, 'I'm getting older now, maybe it's time I start putting my full body out there,' and hopefully me doing that can help somebody else," she shared with a determined smile.

Mahogany learned to rise above negativity. Recalling those difficult times, she revealed, "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." However, she transformed this pain into strength, understanding that her emotional resilience was a gift that enabled her to cope with lymphedema.

"I decided that I was given this condition because I am emotionally strong and I can handle it," she said. This newfound confidence fueled her determination to inspire others to embrace their differences and believe in their beauty, inside and out.

Despite her challenging journey, Mahogany considered her life normal, remaining steadfast in pursuing a successful modeling career. Her dreams extended beyond personal success; she envisioned a future where she could provide for her family, particularly her mother.

Mahogany aspired to purchase a house for her mom and passionately vowed to raise awareness about lymphedema. She expressed her gratitude to those who had shown her kindness by giving back to the community that had supported her.

What do you think about this story? Click here to read a story about a girl with a huge arm. She was called "The Hulk" and asked why she hadn't amputated it.