RuPaul's Drag Race's Michelle Visage, 56, declares herself 'flat and proud' as she finally embraces her natural figure in racy sheer gown following breast implant removal and years of feeling 'shame' for her small chest

Daily Mail​

19-07-2025

Michelle Visage declared herself 'flat and proud' as she finally embraced her natural figure, six years after having her breast implants removed for health reasons.
The RuPaul 's Drag Race judge, 56, stunned in a racy sheer gown in a snap shared to Instagram on Friday with only sequinned modesty patches covering her nipples.
Michelle, who had the cosmetic procedure for bigger breasts when she was just 21, admitted she'd gone under the knife after years of feeling 'shame and ridicule' for her small chest.
In the lengthy caption she penned: 'I wish I had the hindsight to have loved my body when I was a young girl… The truth is, and you may have heard my story before: I was made fun of by many boyfriends and friends in general for being flat chested'.
'Also reading through my father's nudie magazines and not seeing myself represented, I felt inferior and not lovable, attractive or feminine in any way without having big beasts or, for that matter, any real breasts at all'.
Michelle continued: Having my explant for my health in 2019 was a body revolution for myself and my inner child who needed to be validated that she was beautiful from the start. Always has been always will be.
The RuPaul 's Drag Race judge stunned in a racy sheer gown in a snap shared to Instagram on Friday with only sequinned modesty patches covering her nipples (Right in 2018)
'I never would've worn this dress back then for fear of shame and ridicule. You may think it's too much or too revealing or too gauche, but Today I celebrate this dress and the body in it that I've worked hard to achieve'.
Before adding: 'Yes little Michelle, you are loved. Thanks for reading my vent!'.
Former Strictly star Michelle previously revealed that she'd suffered hair loss and 'panic attacks' due to an illness she battled for years due to her breast implants.
She was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid gland is gradually destroyed and can cause symptoms including weight gain, depression and general pain.
Michelle underwent a breast augmentation when she was 21 and became convinced that the surgery was the cause behind a number of unexplained symptoms she had.
Speaking about her battle with the disease, Michelle said: 'My skin was crackly dry and my hair was falling out in clumps. I was also having hardcore panic attacks.
'My journey goes back to me getting breast implants at the age of 21. My body couldn't fight off the attacker because it was there 24 hours a day, seven days a week.'
Michelle's concerns that her symptoms were due to her breast implants were not confirmed by her doctor so she carried out her own research.
The RuPaul's Drag Race UK judge had her implants removed 30 years after getting them and said her 'thyroid nodule has gone down' since.
She said: 'So I found a Facebook group where over 50,000 women who had the same symptoms from their breast implants and started a documentary on my journey with Breast Implant Illness, before getting them removed.
Meanwhile speaking about her weight loss in 2023 she revealed it was about 'calming inflammation' and not being skinny.
The Radio 2 presenter lost the weight in just a year following The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet and weightlifting after struggling with perimenopause.
She previously explained that she hopes the weight loss will also help reverse her Hashimoto's disease - an autoimmune disease where the thyroid gland is destroyed.
During an appearance on loose Women she said that she believedher breast implant journey was also a major factor in the shocking weight loss.
She told the panel: 'I have an autoimmune disease. I hate putting our self-worth down to our bodies; we are so much more than that.
Meanwhile speaking about her weight loss in 2023 she revealed it was about 'calming inflammation' and not being skinny (R in 2019)
'The journey was never about losing weight. It was about calming inflammation, and that is what came along with it.
'I believe my breast implant journey was a major factor.'
According to healthline.com: 'The Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet is an elimination diet designed to help reduce inflammation or other symptoms caused by autoimmune disorders.'
Sporting a red blouse, the former Strictly star completed her chic look with a full face of flawless make-up, including a shimmery smoky eyeshadow.
WHAT IS HASHIMOTO'S DISEASE?
Hashimoto's disease is a condition that causes sufferers' immune systems to attack their thyroid glands.
The thyroid produces hormones that co-ordinate many of the body's functions.
Hashimoto's can cause inflammation, which often leads to an underactive thyroid.
It affects around 0.3-to-1.5 per 1,000 people every year.
Early symptoms may include a swelling at the front of the neck.
Hashimoto's generally gets worse slowly over the years to cause:
Fatigue
Increased sensitivity to cold
Constipation
Pale, flaky skin
A puffy face
Brittle nails
Hair loss
Unexplained weight gain
Joint pain, stiffness and weakness
Excessive or prolonged periods in women
Depression
Reduced memory
Doctors do not know what causes Hashimoto's. Some believe it may be genetic or linked to infections.
Anyone can suffer, however, people are more at risk if they are female, middle aged or have a family history of the condition.