Montreal model breaks barriers, poses with ostomy bag

Model and advocate Sara Levitt’s story was an emotional one.

She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age three and developed into Crohn’s disease when she was eleven.

“I was so young, I really had no idea what was going on,” she said in a recent interview.

“You experience unbearable stomach pain, difficulty eating, digesting food and eliminating waste, going to the toilet. Number two specifically.”

In 2008, she underwent life-saving surgery to remove two-thirds of her colon. She was given a stoma, which allows intestinal waste to enter the body through an external bag.

Levitt said there were no other options. “It was basically do or die.”

Although she didn’t want it at first, it gave her her life back.

“People think that, you know, ‘My stoma is going to run my life, my stoma is going to control my life and dictate where I can go, what I can do.’ And it’s not. You learn to adapt,” she said.

But she says it wasn’t easy.

“In my early years I was like, ‘Okay, I don’t want to tell anyone. I don’t want to wear clothes that show it,’” she recalls.

Levitt’s perspective changed during a family vacation when she challenged herself to wear bikinis with her colostomy bag on display. She began to reclaim her power.

Last year she shared her story on social media and a new chapter began. From there she became a model.

“It’s become a bit of an advocacy journey that I’m so grateful for, working with brands that are fighting for representation within the fashion industry and making people aware of their issues,” Levitt said.

Kaitlyn McQuaid, support programs coordinator at Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, said Levitt’s support is needed.

“Someone like Sara who can share her story and show that you can still live a whole life with a stoma can make a big difference in reducing the stigma that may be attached to getting a stoma.”

Levitt’s life long spotlights her condition, but she also has some fun. Now, she’s done dozens of photoshoots with her ostomy bag, which she affectionately calls “Liv,” including Maxim Magazine Australis.

She has partnered with brands like La Vie en Rose and will soon compete in Miss Bikini USA, where Levitt will continue to fight for representation.

“Liv and I are running two legs: part of the Miami swim meet and part of the Miss Bikini US competition,” she says.

Designer Olivia Sollazzo designed her bikini with her stoma in mind.

“I wanted to not only focus on Liv, but let her have her moment,” Sollazzo said.

Levitt is having her moment and said this is just the beginning.

“If I can make just one person feel less alone and accept and deal with their situation sooner than I did on my own journey,” she said, “then I feel like my life is complete.”