“I’m only 26 – but I already look 50”

Model Sara has a rare condition which has left her with saggy skin – but she has learned to love her looks

ara Geurts S used to hide her body in baggy jumpers and jeans because she was so selfconscious of her wrinkled body.

Sara’s one of only a dozen people in the world who has Dermatosparaxis Ehlers-danlos Syndrome (EDS) – a rare genetic tissue disorder that leaves her with excessively saggy skin, chronic pain and fatigue.

STILL BEAUTIFUL

But after working on her selfconfidence, the 26-year-old is now not only happy to show off her body in swimsuits, she’s started modelling and has appeared in fashion shows and social media campaigns.

Sara, who works in accounting, says: “After years of struggling with my appearance, I finally feel attractive. I know my skin is wrinkled like a granny’s and I look 50 – but I’m still beautiful. I’ve learned to love myself – I wouldn’t change a thing about my appearance.”

Sara, from Minneapolis, USA, was diagnosed with the condition aged 10 after her parents took her to a doctor because she had acne-like sores. Tests showed she had EDS.

She says: “I was so young when I found out about the condition – it’s become a fact of life. It can affect sufferers in different ways. I get tired and have aches and pains, such as stiff knees, but I use natural remedies including acupuncture and essential oils, which help.”

While Sara can cope with many of her symptoms, when her skin started sagging and wrinkling in her late teens, she became very self-conscious.

She explains: “I wasn’t bullied and my family and friends were very supportive, but I hated my skin. I was lucky I didn’t get any nasty remarks, but while my friends wore revealing outfits, I’d hide away in baggy clothes.”

Sara says her condition affected relationships, too. She says: “I felt I wasn’t ‘good enough’ to have a proper relationship – I had a few brief flings and onenight stands. I couldn’t make love with the lights on and I always wanted to cover up.”

But with support from her friends and close workmates she decided to stop “fighting” her condition at 22 and began working on her confidence.

She says: “I couldn’t carry on. I knew I needed to learn to love my appearance as doctors warned my saggy skin would only get worse. My cousin is a plus-size model and her confidence helped a lot – I realised there isn’t only one kind of beauty but many sorts.”

POSITIVE REACTION

Two years ago, Sara was ready to take the next step. A photographer friend, Briana Berglund, 25, started taking pictures of her. Sara then posted the photos to Instagram along with “#loveyourlines” last year – a social media campaign encouraging women to celebrate their wrinkles and stretch marks.

The reaction was so positive, Sara has started modelling. She’s since done fashion shows and been in magazines, online and even in a music video. She says: “I want to break down the barriers of what beauty is. No one should feel they need to cover up. I wear anything I want – I’m sad I once saw myself as ugly. I don’t even mind that my skin will get worse

“I want children if I can – my joints may not be up to carrying them, but the fact they have a 50 per cent chance of getting EDS doesn’t put me off. I’ll be able to help them cope. I want to inspire other women who think they aren’t attractive. It’s confidence that makes people beautiful – anyone can have that.”

❛I wear anything I want. I want to break down the barriers of what beauty Is❜