Because stoma bags are no barrier to being sexy.
A group of women with Crohn’s disease have teamed up to create an empowering calendar in their underwear, to prove once and for all that the illness doesn’t stop them from feeling sexy.
The women in the calendar have all had surgery to remove parts of their intestines, and have to use ileostomy bags.
‘There’s a lot of stigma surrounding having an ostomy,’ said Samantha Cawley, the 28-year-old train driver who organised the calendar.
‘It is something that needs to be stamped out.
‘I know there are some women out there that don’t want to get naked in front of their partners because they are so self-conscious so, hopefully, this calendar will do something to help them rebuild their confidence.’
Claire, January
Tracey, February
Natalie, March
Annie, April
Jasmine, May
Levi, June
Lisa, July
Amanda, September
Kelly, October
Lauren, November
And a group shot for December
Money raised by the calendar will go straight to Purple Wings, a charity which provides support to people diagnosed with bowel disease.