Woman's bikini pics create internet sensation
A woman with Crohn's disease who posted a picture of herself in a bikini revealing her colostomy bags has been praised by a charity supporting people with the illness.
Bethany Townsend posted a photo of herself sunbathing with two colostomy bags while on holiday in Mexico and has now spurred on others with the illness to post similar pictures.
Townsend, a former model, said she was inspired by #nomakeupselfie and the #GetYourBellyOut campaign which raises money for Crohn's and Colitis UK.
Her original picture posted on Facebook has now been liked over 240,000 times with 20,000 shares since being posted on 21 June.
When I went to Mexico with my husband last year I finally showed I wasn't ashamed
"After three and a half years, I decided that my colostomy bags shouldn't control my life," said Townsend.
"So when I went to Mexico with my husband last year I finally showed I wasn't ashamed."
A spokesperson for the charity praised Townsend.
"Thousands of our members with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis - and many more supporters - have told us that Bethany is inspirational and that her actions have helped them to shed insecurities of their own."
Crohn's and Colitis UK is urging people to donate via its Justgiving page or via text.
