Iran, largely shunned by western tourists, is making a push to attract visitors from wealthy Gulf Arab states and other nearby countries to...

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 21, 2023--

A model has shared her battle with an incurable condition that causes struggles when walking – saying evil bullies call her “penguin.” Victoria Matosa used to work out tirelessly in the gym but didn’t notice any results, leaving her feeling deflated. She had no idea that a health condition was standing in the way of her fitness progress. At school, the influencer, who now has 4.3 million followers on Instagram (@soyvictoriamatosa), was bullied for the appearance of her “thick” legs, with peers giving her cruel nicknames. Feeling too “ashamed” to leave the house and wear certain clothes, such as shorts, Victoria sought out medical advice and was diagnosed with lipedema, an incurable disease that causes abnormal fatty deposits to build up unevenly in the body. Now, the 26-year-old is hoping to raise awareness about the condition and help others accept themselves. “I always had thick legs but it started to get worse after [I started getting] my period [and] I couldn’t even wear shorts outside the house, I felt too ashamed,” Victoria told NeedToKnow.co.uk. “I started to avoid going to the beach and only [wore] leggings and jeans, which made me very uncomfortable, [as well as] distancing myself from friends out of embarrassment. “Due to bullying and pressure to always be doing a lot of exercise to lose weight, I tried many restrictive diets, which resulted in me binge-eating. “I [used to] spend three hours in the gym until I reached exhaustion, giving up and then eating compulsively.” Victoria, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was diagnosed in February 2023. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Since then, she has experienced “heavy pain” in her swollen, inflamed legs, as well as feeling very tired in the knees. While “relieved” to finally have an answer for her unusual symptoms, she’s also been left sad knowing that the only options are to either have surgery or go on a restricted diet for the rest of her life. The influencer said: “It was a mixture of feelings – before, I blamed myself for not being able to lose weight in my legs, even working out intensely. “Now, I go to the gym and have an anti-inflammatory diet, but I don’t feel ready to [have an] operation, as I’d have to do three liposuctions. “I feel sad and discouraged with each passing day [but] I try to accept and love myself more.” While sharing her health battle online, Victoria has received lots of praise but has also experienced her fair share of verbal “attacks”. She added: “I’ve already suffered a lot of bullying on the internet, people didn’t like me because of my weight and my body. “I got tired of receiving messages of curses that only had the objective of hurting me. “This continues to be routine in my life, only different than before, because I don’t let these people make me feel like a monster. “In my love life, I’ve been very lucky. “I haven’t dated much but the relationships I have had never had insecurities with my body and they [my partners] made me feel very secure about myself. “I want to be able to help other women, because after revealing lipedema on Instagram, I had several reports from women who felt bad and didn’t know they had this.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Police investigating the disappearance of McCann police say they have recovered a number of items from their recent search of a reservoir in Portugal. German authorities last week helped Portuguese crews comb a remote area inland from the Algarve coastal resort where Madeleine went missing from her bedroom during a family holiday in 2007. Prosecutors said they would evaluate the undisclosed items in the coming days and weeks. “Whether some of the items actually relate to the Madeleine McCann case cannot yet be confirmed,” the prosecutor’s statement read. Last week, police in Portugal undertook a three-day search at the remote reservoir which is located around 31 miles from the Praia de Luz resort- the hotel where Madeleine vanished while her parents were at dinner in a tapas bar with friends around 100 yards away from their holiday apartment. As part of this investigation, police dug holes of around 60cm and the surrounding woodland showed pathways had been cut by heavy machinery, leading to the main flattened 160 square foot excavation area. More follows on this breaking news story.... Read More Madeleine McCann news – latest: Investigators set to widen search after new photos reveal ‘clues’ Madeleine McCann case: Timeline of the missing child’s disappearance How Madeleine McCann search at reservoir unfolded – and what police found

SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 26, 2023--

Chinese stocks listed in Hong Kong advanced on Monday after the nation rolled out further property support measures

The pandemic was far from Dr Alena's only challenge on a far-flung archipelago in the Philippines.

Vast crowds of robed pilgrims made solemn circles around the Kaaba, the black cube at Mecca's Grand Mosque, on Sunday as the biggest hajj pilgrimage in years began in...

Greg Casar calls off his protest over a law to end some protections for outdoor workers in Texas.

MANAUS, Brazil--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 26, 2023--

During the worst of the pandemic, outdoor recreation surged as people took up pursuits to escape isolation

The price of every Premier League club's season tickets for the 2023/24 season, with the likes of Fulham, Arsenal and Tottenham topping the list.