Gaylyn Henderson Is Gutless and Glamorous

Gaylyn Henderson, known online as Gutless and Glamorous, knows she looks different, and embraces it.

“I’m aware I am physically different, but that no longer bothers me,” Henderson said. “I look forward to the summer, like most people. I look forward to swimsuits, short shorts, tank tops, and summer dresses.”

Henderson, who can be seen on Instagram dancing around with her ostomy bag on display, hasn’t always been comfortable with her appearance. “I used to be incredibly self-conscious about the scars on my legs,” she said.

When Henderson, from Atlanta, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, she was put on a high dose of prednisone for an extended period of time, causing her to develop noticeable stretch marks on her arms and legs. “People close to me encouraged me to not be ashamed of my scars, but it didn’t matter until I made a choice to do so,” she said. “It wasn’t until I made a choice to overcome my feelings of shame towards my physical scars that I truly no longer cared what others may think.”

“People may stare, that’s OK. I’ve learned people are either genuinely curious or genuinely inspired,” Henderson said. “Curious of what may have caused the scars I have. Inspired because I have the courage to be all that I am regardless of what others may think.”

Read More: This Is What It Looks Like When You Feature Disabled and Chronically Ill People in Magazines

Next: Christina ‘Mouse’ Jennings Wants to Inspire Young Girls With Chest Scars