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Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Influencer Who Dished Out $33K on 250 Tattoos Reveals How the Transformation Impacts Her Daily Life (Exclusive)
NEED TO KNOW An Australian woman has gone viral on social media for showing her 250 tattoos, which cover nearly her entire body, from her chest to her feet (and yes, her butt) Over five years, she's spent around $32,600 on her themed ink, which she reveals are done over multiple seven-hour tattooing sessions Speaking about her transformation, she reveals how her appearance has impacted her confidence and everyday interactionsThis woman's love for tattoos is permanent. Melbourne, Australia-based content creator Blue Valentine has garnered a following online for sharing her tattoo journey, which, today, includes around 250 works of art that've cost her $50,000 AUD (which is approximately $33,000 USD). "I always knew I wanted tattoos," says the 28-year-old, who describes herself as "an all-or-nothing kind of person." Still, when she decided to get her first tattoo five years ago, she approached the process slowly and steadily. "I was initially scared I wouldn't be able to handle the pain, as I don't like regular needles or taking blood. I did a small traditional tattoo flower on my ribs, so if I tapped out, I wouldn't have to look at it too much." But that wasn't the case. Despite the "horrible" pain that occurred during that very first session, she wasn't deterred. "As I left the studio, I got over it and booked in my first sleeve about a week later." There's more than what meets the eye with what Valentine calls her "body suit" (because the majority of her lower half — including her chest, stomach and butt — are, in fact, covered in tats). Each sleeve and collage are designed in different themes: Diner, Military, Sailor, Circus, Garage, Western and Vintage. The one thing they have in common? Illustrations inspired by 1950s pin-up culture, which also influences how Valentine dresses day to day. "I knew I wanted to do themes straight away. I like the organization of it. I picked my top themes, assessed which ones had the most images I wanted and they got the larger portions of my body," she explains. "My favorite tattoo is my throat tattoo. [It reads] 'Not your Valentine', Valentine being my last name. I think it's a bold statement and is a strong representation of my personality. My others would be the ones I have representing my family, such as images of my parents [she revealed in a TikTok tattoo tour that she has an depiction of them as "conjoined twins" as a part of her circus-themed sleeve], brother, grandparents and dogs. 'All Bark, All Bite' across my chest is also another favorite of mine," she says. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. While Valentine's tattoo count may be mind-boggling, she puts thought into every single one she gets. First, she sketches her concepts on an iPad, then gives her moodboard of sorts to her tattoo artists. She's worked with three Australian-based artists, Ben Tuckey, Ben Koopman and Allegra Maeva, over the years (but has never done a tattoo on herself). Then come the time-consuming — and pricey — tattoo shop visits. "I would book six to seven-hour full-day sessions and go either weekly or bi-weekly until we completed whatever sleeve or themed section we were on. I'd then take a month break or so to draw up the next sleeve if I didn't already have it ready. Usually in a full day you could get two big pieces or three medium pieces [completed]. There would also be full-day sessions just focused on filler pieces to close up any gaps, which were usually just free-handed by the artist." She says she's dished out around $800 AUD or $522 USD per session. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Valentine's transformation has cost her much more than money. She tells PEOPLE that her appearance sometimes receives negative responses from people she meets in real life. "Men definitely stare and ask inappropriate questions. I also work in a bar so there's not a night that goes by without some form of harassment and comments made towards me and my tattoos," says Valentine, who works in bar management. "I don't take anyone's opinion of it seriously, as my tattoos are everything I planned out and wanted. I'm very proud of what me and my artists have achieved, and I've become incredibly confident in my skin because of it." She also says she has a loving partner who supports her tattoo journey as she does hers. That means she really (yes, really) doesn't have any regrets about her ink. "I'm so glad I waited until I was 23 to start getting tattooed or, my god, I would have some shockers! Everything was planned and everything worked out the way I envisioned thanks to my artists," she says. The lingering question: Does she have any more room for a few more tattoos? "I only have the bottoms of my feet, face and ears free," she says, though getting her ears done is next on her to-do list. She does have one body part that's absolutely off limits: "I want to keep my face naked." Read the original article on People
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
I shed over 3 stone on Mounjaro - but there have been some major downsides to my weight loss
A woman has won praise for her hilariously savage take on what it feels like to lose weight on Mounjaro. UK-based content creator Sara-Jane, who lost three stone and three pounds in just five months, didn't hold back as she opened up about the unexpected downsides of taking the popular weight-loss injection. The mother, who uses the handle @thatsarajane on TikTok, revealed five things that have been 'absolutely ruined' for her since starting Mounjaro. In the humorous video, which gained more than 140,000 views, she claimed 'personally victimised' by the jab. Among the downsides, Sara-Jane spoke eloquently about how shedding the pounds means she is back on the 'male radar' again, and discussed the trauma of buying new clothes. She quipped: 'Much to my disgust I'm back on the male radar again. Don't hold a door for me, don't smile at me, don't even breathe in my direction.' Sara-Jane continued: 'I did not lose all this to become visible again to your breed, I will gain it all back out of spite, just to sumo roll you into traffic, leave me alone.' Next, she revealed that losing weight has led to a 'fashion identity crisis', as getting used to her new body shape is taking some effort. She explained: 'Having a clothing identity crisis. I've been wearing leggings and T- shirts on repeat and I fear I always will be. Should I buy for future me? Is future me just a made up delusion in my own head, will I forever just be a hoodrat in tracksuit?' Moving onto the third issue, Sara-Jane expressed her disdain towards people who try to rope her into group workouts or fitness clubs. 'I'm not sure why it's now socially acceptable to ask me if I want to join your running club or Pilates group to keep myself trim, because absolutely not,' she snapped. 'I will do weights alone in my bedroom. Matching yoga mats and a yummy mummy club every Wednesday is just never gonna be for me.' The hilarious mother also fumed about finally being fit enough to go on theme park rides. She said: 'Theme park rides! I expect to wave my kids off like ''oh no how sad mummy can't fit, have a great motion sickness time without me'', what am I going to do now?' Sara-Jane then quipped: 'The only thing now I can do to avoid a log flume is get pregnant!' Lastly, Sara-Jane fumed over the 'wild comments' she regularly receives from people when they find out she is using weight-loss jabs. She said: 'I assumed people said their most wild comments to talk about you behind your back, turns out no not true, they say them to your face. 'Sorry Sue, I didn't actually ask about the lady in Take a Break magazine who jabbed herself in the toe and then had multiple organ failure. Her video clearly struck a chord with TikTok users, many of whom flooded the comments with praise for Sara-Jane's witty weight loss review 'Adding "I'm sure you'll be fine though" doesn't make you any less of a w*****, but you carry on with the diet club my love,, and keep losing and gaining that same five pounds you've been losing and gaining for the last 10 years now.' To conclude the video, Sara-Jane revealed she 'wouldn't go as far as to say it's ruined [her] entire life', however she acknowledged that she has had to 'develop some new coping skills' to deal with the significant changes to her physique. Her video clearly struck a chord with TikToker users, many of whom took to the comment section to praise the witty weight loss review. One viewer said: 'I feel you might be my spirit animal.' Another added: 'Brilliant, all you have said is true. Love it, and being on the male radar brilliant response.' Someone else added: 'The clothing identity crisis is so real! What do you mean I have to figure out if something other than leggings suit me?!' A further TikTok user wrote: 'You are literally brilliant, I'm in my room with my weights too.' And another added: 'Yes yes and yes to all this, it doesn't quite sound as good when I say it though.' It comes after a mother who saw instant success on the 'King Kong' weightloss jab said she was left looking like 'Skeletor' when she stopped using the injections. After losing three stone on an 'unsustainable diet ', she turned to the weight loss medication Mounjaro in May last year to try and transform her body. The mother-of-three said it had an instant effect and stopped her incessant raiding of the snack cupboard. 'I thought it was going to be another diet trend but the food noises got switched off,' said Ms Ogley, who used the injections for five months. 'As soon as I went on it I realised "I've not touched the snack cupboard".' This change helped her make healthier choices in other aspects of her life and she started exercising. Soon the nursery manager had lost a further three stone, taking her down to a total body weight of around 10stone. However, she said the process of weaning off the drug came with a worrying side effect. Ms Ogley recalled how, in coming off the jab, she became obsessed with becoming as 'skinny as possible'. 'I got trolled, they called me Skeletor. I was being told I looked like a 60-year-old,' she said. Skeletor is the name of a skull-faced villain from the 80s children's cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Losing muscle mass is known side-effect of rapid weight loss methods, including weight loss injections. While dieters lose fat, they can also shed muscle if they consume very few calories and fail to perform muscle-building exercises. It was nasty social media comments, alongside Ms Ogley's husband's concerns that she looked 'ill', that gave her the wake-up call she needed. Ms Ogley took up weight training and said this – combined with some healthy food swaps – has a made a world of difference. 'I have abs at 42 – it blows my mind,' she said. 'I have hacks in place. If I'm craving sweets I have [high protein] Greek yoghurt, berries and granola. I still have takeaways but I exercise portion control. We make chicken kebabs as fakeaways instead of ordering them as takeaways.' She said making these swaps and cutting back on alcohol had helped prevent the weight from coming back. Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, is a weekly jab that can help patients shed up to a fifth of their body weight in a year. It will reportedly be offered to around 220,000 people over the next three years under new NHS prescribing rules. GPs can now prescribe the drug to patients with a BMI over 40 – classed as severely obese – and at least four obesity-related health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea. More than a million people in the UK are already using it via private clinics, where it costs around £250 a month. However, until now, only a limited number of patients could access it on the NHS via specialist weight-management services.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm 5ft3 & a size 12/14 – my 7 Tesco dresses are an absolute bargain & perfect for a last-minute wedding guest outfit
A FASHION fan has revealed the seven finds from Tesco that are perfect for a last-minute wedding guest outfit. So if you've got someone's special day coming up round the corner and have no clue what to wear, fear not, you've come to the right place. 8 8 8 Christina Mitsi, a content creator from the UK, shared her candid thoughts on seven outfits from F&F, which are not only affordable but incredibly flattering too. The 5ft3 fashionista is a size 12/14 and posted her haul on social media with the caption 'If you're after budget wedding guest dresses then F&F Clothing at Tesco have a lovely selection at the moment and all under £36!' As part of her recent wedding guest dress series, Christina gave her followers a close-up look at the new-in supermarket buys, as she said: 'Wedding guest dresses from Tesco - yes, Florence and Fred have a lovely selection this year. 'None of these are above £36 - absolute bargain.' To kick off her haul, she modelled a blue and white floral frock, as she beamed: 'First of all, we've got this lovely blue one with the flowers. I thought the shape of this, the neckline in particular, is lovely. 'I love the puff sleeves, I think it's really nice and stretchy at the back.' Next up, Christina tried on a black and white maxi dress, as she explained: 'This one as well is a size 14 and I think this is perfect for me - the back is absolutely gorgeous. 'The length as well is actually really good, I'm only 5ft 3in so this will be a little bit shorter if you average size, but I love this one. 'It's black and cream but I still think it's wedding appropriate - and a lovely neckline there, not showing too much, lovely.' Following on from this, Christina was left beaming with a long-sleeve floral dress, as she continued: 'Look at this - perfect for twirling. I'm a size 14 and did the best Tesco summer haul - run before new co-ord sells out 'I know it's black, but because there's so much pink and green in it, it is like a really nice colour. The ruffles make it ever so fancy and nice. 'This is one of the £36 ones, the rest were a lot cheaper as well, some even in the sale. 'Lovely one this one. The length is really good on me.' She then modelled a 'gorgeous' sleeveless top and a maxi skirt, as she shared: 'So this is a skirt and the top separately - beautiful. "I think together in the same colour, it would be gorgeous. I really, really liked this.' And that wasn't all, as Christina then tried on a floaty mini dress, as she acknowledged: 'This one was lovely, I love how floaty this is, look at the arms. 8 8 8 'It makes you feel ever so floaty and feminine and nice, and I love that it's a little bit longer at the front than the back. 'Something a little bit different and really nice and comfortable to wear.' The bargain hunter then shared her honest thoughts on a tiered dress, which will set shoppers back £36. 'To be honest it was a bit hard to get into it first because it has a tight dress underneath it. Wedding Guest Outfit Etiquette If you're struggling to decided on a dress to see you through wedding season, here's a few rules on what not to wear so you don't get in trouble. Folklore says that wearing red at a wedding means you slept with the groom. Casual attire like jeans and flip flops should always be avoided. Any colour that could be picked up as white or cream - even if it's not. Most would agree that your cleavage needs to be covered. Wearing white is a massive no-no if you're not the bride. 'It does give a lovely figure, everything's sort of sucked in and in place and nice. 'The colour I think is just a little bit ageing for me and doesn't really go with my skin tone, but it's still a lovely shape dress and I think this would suit a lot of people,' she reflected. And finally, Christina looked gorgeous in the viral satin polka dot frock, as she concluded: 'Finally - I know what you're all gonna say, you can't wear white to a wedding, but I couldn't resist getting this one as well. 'As a lovely polka dot dress, I think this is gorgeous.' 8 8 Fashion fans beam The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ christinatmitsi, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 239,700 views in just 24 hours. Not only this, but it's also amassed 3,695 likes, 276 comments and 367 saves. One person said: 'I like the polka dot one and the blue first one. You are an amazing model for us shorter girls, it gives a true reflection of what flatters our shape and size. 'Nice not to see a tall skinny girl modelling the clothes, that's no good to us.' Another added: 'Christina these are some of the nicest dresses you have tried on. Number one is my favourite.' A third commented: 'They all looked lovely on you. My favourite on you was the pinky coloured dress.' Meanwhile, someone else beamed: 'These are really pretty and you really suit them.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club Hottest fashion trends of 2025 Fabulous' Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend shares the biggest trends from the high street. The East/West Bag Baguette bags have had a good run, after returning from the 1990s' shoulders of Sarah Jessica Parker to modern-day fashion icons, like Hailey Bieber. In 2025, the East/West bag is a similar but elongated shape and has long, thin straps that are easy to throw over your shoulder. They've been on runway models' arms at nearly ever designer show - think Burberry, Givenchy and Bottega Veneta - and are hitting the high street now, too. Powder pink Bright fuchsia pink had its day after the release of Barbie in 2023 and now the more polished and expensive-looking pale shade is taking over for 2025. Pantone may say that it's the year of Mocha Mousse, but the catwalks say otherwise! From Prada to Erdem, the subtle look was all over the spring/summer catwalks, worn head-to-toe or on its own. If the sugary shade is too girly for you, then look to sharp suiting for a androgynous take on the colour. The shell jacket The '80s classic is back, but with a sleek and minimal new twist for 2025. We all know we're likely to see rain for most of spring, so your practical coat of choice should be a cagoule jacket. Depop revealed one of its big trend predictions for this year is retro sportswear, with surges already seen in '80s windbreakers'. Seen everywhere from the stylish streets of Copenhagen to the Miu Miu catwalk, now mums who have an emergency raincoat crumpled underneath their pushchair are very much in fashion! The turn-up jeans While the shape of jeans remains the same for this year and barrel-legs will still be everywhere, the way we're styling them is different. This season, transform your wide-leg, baggy denims into turn-ups. For this look, size doesn't matter, so while deep turn-ups are a hit from jean trend-leaders Citizens of Humanity, a slight fold is still just as good - but only as it's just one single fold. Peep-toe shoe Get your pedicures booked in sharpish, as this season your toes are the main event. After a long hiatus, the peep-toe has been welcomed back into the fashion fold, with brands like Hermes, Miu Miu and Tory Burch showing plain and embellished footwear in this style. From mules to pumps and clogs (yes, clogs will be around too!), there are lots of different styles that are set to sweep the high street. Sheer blouses See-through looks have always lived on the catwalk, but have rarely filtered into everyday life - until now. Designers Ralph Lauren and Tom Ford loved sheer looks on their S/S '25 catwalks and M&S even had sellout success with its black sheer pencil skirt last season. Expect to see more sheer looks lining supermarket aisles and high street shops in the form of skirts, tops and frocks.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cierra Ortega's 'Love Island' apology, cancel culture and why Gen Z has a big problem
Gen Z has taken over the newest season of 'Love Island USA' − and it's causing some major problems. Cierra Ortega, a 25-year-old content creator, has left the villa due to 'personal' situation, days after past social media posts surfaced online that showed her using a racial slur. On July 9, she issued an apology for having used the "incredibly offensive and derogatory term." Ortega isn't the first Season 7 Islander to be removed from the villa following controversy. Another contestant, Yulissa Escobar was abruptly ousted from the villa on just the second day, after clips of her using a racial slur on a podcast resurfaced. She later apologized, saying at the time she didn't fully understand "the weight, history or pain behind it.' There's no excuse for using a racial slur — and it's important to recognize the hurt it inflicts among the affected communities. But two Islanders being ousted in one season begs the question: Are those 'digital footprints' teachers and parents warned of finally coming back to haunt Gen Z? How online sleuths impact reality TV The open secret of reality TV is that the producers control the narrative. Conversations are cut down, some couples are poised to be the favorites, while other contestants get pigeonholeed as the villain. However, as we dive deeper into surveillance culture in the digital age, producers are met with an inability to control that narrative online. When conflict arises, producers can't simply limit a contestant's screen time to get the world to stop talking about them. The drama takes on a life of its own outside the villa and on social media, leading to contestants being "canceled" even while the show is airing in real-time. On 'Love Island USA' Season 7, most of the contestants are between the ages of 21-27, making them the first group of Gen Z islanders who have fully grown up in the digital age. Their entire lives have been documented on X (at the time, Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok. In earlier seasons, producers and contestants never had to think about what could be dug up from a contestant's social media history. And if an incriminating video existed, there wasn't as big of a platform to share it on. Now, audiences are more connected than ever, and algorithmic feeds on apps like TikTok allow for widespread discourse on concentrated topics, continuously pouring gas on the flames of online drama. Because reality TV is meant to be authentic and unfiltered, 'it's much easier for people who watch it regularly to connect with these characters and start to invest in them,' explains media psychologist Pamela Rutledge. This can also lead viewers to form parasocial relationships with contestants, which according to Elizabeth Perse, a professor emeritus of communication at the University of Delaware, is the 'illusion of friendship" with a public persona. When reality stars act in a way that is offensive or seemingly out of character, audiences feel betrayed. Once contestants return home, the attention can be overwhelming, especially when it turns hostile. 'Even though contestants don't know the commenters on social media personally, the relentless and pointed attacks can feel very personal,' trauma and relationship therapist Jordan Pickell previously told USA TODAY. 'Human brains aren't equipped to distinguish between real-life risks to safety and online attacks.' In case you missed it: People can't stop talking about Huda on 'Love Island.' Will we ever learn our lesson? Ortega's departure sheds light on Asian hate Experts say referring to "cancel culture" as "accountability culture" could help hold people accountable for their wrongdoings — allowing room for growth while still enduring the consequences of their actions. Ortega appeared to use a slur, which refers to people of Asian descent, to describe her eyes in a 2015 Instagram caption. Another Instagram story using the slur circulated via an unverified screenshot, which appeared to be as recent as 2023, according to People. Many Asian Americans have taken this controversy as an opportunity to educate people about the history of the slur and why it is hurtful to Asian communities. 'Anytime you say these horrible things like Cierra did on her (Instagram story), it really does hurt,' one TikTok content creator said. 'Cierra from 'Love Island' got Botox to make her eyes look less like my eyes,' said another in a video with 8M views. 'Imagine being in a world where you're looking at media and you don't see people with your eye shape, and instead you're seeing people get surgery to alter your eye shape.' Belle-A Walker, a contestant who was dumped earlier this season, unfollowed Ortega on Instagram and commended 'Love Island USA' producers for "taking a stand.' 'Asian hate is oftentimes overlooked and dismissed. But being a first-generation American, I have personally witnessed and experienced how real and hurtful comments like these are,' Walker shared via an Instagram story on July 7. 'It is my hope that this situation can help shed light on how big of an issue anti-Asian hate really is.' Can cancel culture go too far? On July 7, fellow ousted contestant Escobar posted a TikTok expressing concern for Ortega's mental health. 'I'm not justifying what I did, I know what I did and what I said was wrong, and I know what Cierra said was wrong,' Escobar said. 'Looking at those messages I was getting, I was honestly scared to come home,' she continued. 'I was like, is something going to happen to me? Is someone going to do something to me? Because it was just a lot to take in, and even my family was worried.' In a statement posted by Ortega's family to her Instagram story on July 6, the family asked that people allow her to take accountability, saying that the 'attacks on her family, her friends, even her supporters' were 'heartbreaking' and 'uncalled for.' As to where the show can go from here? Maybe take viewers' advice and cast some 'regular people,' not influencers, on the show next season. Contributing: David Oliver, Taijuan Moorman This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cierra 'Love Island' apology and reality TV's cancel culture problem Solve the daily Crossword
The Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Agonising cramps, vomiting and odd poos – doctors dismissed them all as IBS but now I won't live to see my 30th birthday
DOCTORS repeatedly dismissed Shannin Pain's vomiting, agonising cramps and oddly-shaped poos as IBS due to her age - until tests revealed she might only have three years to live. The 26-year-old visited three separate doctors after she began struggling to keep food down in October 2023. 7 7 7 But they all insisted her nausea, "stabbing" stomach cramps and bowel changes weren't anything to worry about. Shannin was tested for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease Crohn's, and was even told she might have haemorrhoids. It wasn't until 2024 that an MRI revealed Shannin had stage four bowel cancer that had silently spread through her body. The 26-year-old was given a terrifying prognosis: three years to live with chemotherapy, or just three months without it. 'I knew something wasn't right,' Shannin, a content creator from Kawartha Lakes, Canada, said. 'I was told it was IBS or anxiety. But deep down, my gut was literally screaming at me.' Her symptoms began in October 2023, when she started feeling intense nausea after eating, couldn't keep food down, and noticed her bowel habits had changed dramatically. 'I went from being regular to barely going at all. And when I did, my stool was pencil-thin,' Shannin said. 'It might be TMI, but it was a huge red flag.' She also started experiencing agonising stomach pains. Diagnosed with bowel cancer at 22 'I'd get these stabbing cramps in my lower left abdomen - so bad I couldn't breathe. "I would double over, gasping, clutching my stomach. It felt like something was ripping through me.' Shannin is "frustrated" that none of her doctors suggested she get colonoscopy when she presented with these symptoms. 'Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers if caught early, but no one took me seriously because of my age," she claims. 7 In April 2024, Shannin was sent for an MRI to 'rule things out' - and never left the hospital. 'The scan showed a complete intestinal blockage, and I was admitted on the spot for emergency surgery,' she recalled. 'When I woke up, they told me I had cancer.' Surgeons removed the tumour in her large intestine but during the procedure, they discovered the disease had already spread to her right ovary, which had to be removed. What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer? IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough. While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver. If you notice any of the signs, don't be embarrassed and don't ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems. The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include: Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo A change in your normal toilet habits - going more frequently for example Pain or a lump in your tummy Extreme tiredness Losing weight Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness. In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction. Other signs include: Gripping pains in the abdomen Feeling bloated Constipation and being unable to pass wind Being sick Feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools. But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease. Shannin was diagnosed with a Krukenberg tumour, a rare secondary cancer that starts in the gastrointestinal tract and spreads to the ovaries. In the same surgery, doctors also removed 13 of Shannin's lymph nodes, 11 of which were cancerous, and part of her peritoneum - the a membrane that lines the inside of the abdomen and pelvis. With one ovary remaining, Shannin underwent egg retrieval in May 2024 with the hope of being able to have children one day and successfully saved seven eggs. 'The idea of losing my fertility while fighting for my life was heartbreaking,' she said. 'I'm so grateful we were able to get those eggs. It gives me hope for the future.' But Shannin also found out that her liver was so covered in tumours, it couldn't be operated on at all. She was told she needed to start chemotherapy immediately, or the cancer would become untreatable. 7 7 'They said without chemo, I had less than three months. With it, maybe up to three years. I just froze.' As of June 2025, she's completed 27 rounds of chemo and is preparing for her twenty-eighth. In October and November, things took a dangerous turn when Shannin twice went into anaphylactic shock after reacting to one of her chemo drugs. 'My throat closed up. I couldn't breathe. I honestly thought I was going to die.' The 26-year-old instead switched to immunotherapy and a take-home chemo bottle she wears for several days after each session. Last hope Shannin recently received a small but hopeful update: her latest MRI showed no new tumours in her liver. 'Some deposits have grown slightly, but nothing alarming,' she shared. 'After taking a six-week chemo break, I was terrified the cancer had exploded. This gave me relief.' On top of conventional treatment, Shannin is also looking into personalised integrative oncology in hopes of extending her life further. She's working with a naturopathic oncologist in Switzerland, who is conducting testing to determine what therapies might target her cancer, including high-dose vitamin C, Ivermectin, and other metabolic treatments. 'The goal is to test my blood against different therapies and find what actually kills my tumour cells. Then, with those results, I'll hopefully travel to Sweden and start treatment there," Shannin said. There's no reliable scientific evidence that vitamin C or Ivermectin - an anti-parasitic drug - can combat cancer. Shannin has launched a GoFundMe to help fund her travel, testing and treatment. 'This is my last hope. I'm not ready to give up. I've come this far, and I'm going to keep fighting," she said. She's now documenting her experiences on TikTok, hoping to raise awareness for other young people experiencing similar symptoms. 'If I can help even one person get diagnosed sooner, it'll all be worth it. "No one should be told they're too young for cancer.'
