Brave Sheffield woman performs burlesque routine in wheelchair and wearing stoma bag

Lottie Bennett, aged ...., who has lived with the fatigue and mobility problems of Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome since she was 14, wanted to show that having a colostomy should not prevent anyone from living life to the full.

Using the stage name Roxy Sur Roues, she performed as part of the ‘Secret Show’ tour, where the locations of burlesque shows are kept secret until last minute.

She said she felt empowered to take part after her wheelchair ballroom dance partner took a burlesque course earlier in the year.

Lottie, whose rare medical condition, which affects one in 100,000 people and causes chronic pain, mobility difficulties, internal bleeding, thrombosis and chronic fatigue, said: “I also hope that anyone in the audience watching and thinking that they aren’t attractive for whatever reason will see it and realise that this is someone who has physical deformities, but it’s the confidence and the ‘inner sexy’ that comes out when you believe in yourself.”

“It was a real boost, I never thought this was something I would be able to do, but when you’re up there and the audience are literally screaming for you, it’s one of the best and most empowering experiences.”

A spokesman for the Colostomy Association said: “We have seen a real positive in attitudes towards people living with a stoma in recent years.

“It is thanks to the bravery of people like Lottie who are speaking out about the stigma of having a stoma.”

A stoma bag is used when an opening is made on the front of the abdomen, diverting faeces or urine into a bag on the outside of the body.

To find out more about a stomas or for advice call the Colostomy Association on 0800 328 4257.