Double mastectomy survivor wins contest to model lingerie for breast cancer

October 20, 2015 by admin
Filed under Latest Lingerie News

Debbie Murphy, 39, from Cardiff, is the new face of a lingerie catalogue
She entered the competition after her son Rory told her she was beautiful
She saw the modelling opportunity as a chance to feel good about herself

Alice Johnston For Mailonline

Published:
14:54 EST, 18 October 2015

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Updated:
18:35 EST, 18 October 2015

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A mum who has been chosen as the face of a lingerie catalogue was inspired to apply when her three-year-old son told her she looked beautiful after losing her hair to breast cancer.

Debbie Murphy, 39, was diagnosed in April last year and, while she would never have contemplated posing in underwear in the past, living with cancer made her see it as an opportunity to feel good about herself.

Her photo, modelling next year’s range for Lorna Drew’s 2016 mastectomy lingerie catalogue, will appear on the cover and, after making it to the final five following a public vote via Facebook, the judges crowned her the winner of the Everyday Superwoman competition.

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Debbie Murphy, 39, from Cardiff, was inspired to enter the lingerie modelling competition after her three-year-old son Rory told her she was beautiful. Debbie was diagnosed with breast cancer in April last year

Debbie has had two mastectomies and is coming to the end of her treatment. She saw the competition as an opportunity to feel good about herself and be body-confident again after her battle with breast cancer

‘I had my second mastectomy in June and I’m just coming to the end of the treatment,’ said Debbie, from Thornhill, in Cardiff.

‘I was worried what my son, Rory, would remember of me, so I wanted to do something to build memories for him.

‘He inspired me to enter the competition because when I had to shave my hair he stroked my head and said ‘you’re beautiful’.

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‘I was in tears knowing that he loves me no matter what and that we have an unconditional bond.

‘He just knows me as Mummy and how I look doesn’t change that.’

After the difficulty and pain of coping with the disease and gruelling treatment, posing in the matching underwear, which come with cups for women who wear padding after their mastectomies.

She said: ‘I wanted to feel feminine and be able to wear clothes that show my figure. I wanted to be able to wear a young person’s matching underwear set.’

Debbie with Rory, aged three, above. The single mother had to make tough decisions about Rory’s daytime care as she does not live near family and was forced to place him in a nursery while she had treatment

As part of winning the Everyday Superwoman competition, Debbie will also receive a year’s supply of Lorna Drew mastectomy lingerie.

The single mother, who used to work as a nursery nurse and had qualified as a medical nurse shortly before her diagnosis, does not have family living nearby and had to make tough decisions about Rory’s daytime care.

‘I had to get help to find respite for him in a nursery school. I’ve always looked after other people’s children and then I was looking for someone to help look after my son.

‘He has gone through so much and I am stronger because of him.’

Each candidate applying for the competition to become the new face of the luxurious range had to share their experience of breast cancer treatment.

Debbie’s only focus during treatment was the stay strong for Rory, her ‘fabulous’ little boy. She was inspired to enter the lingerie modelling competition after he said she looked beautiful with a shaved head

Debbie explained in her application that her only focus during chemotherapy, radiotherapy, three surgeries and ongoing treatment was her ‘fabulous’ little boy.

She wrote: ‘We snuggled up together when I was too poorly to get up, then explored and built precious memories together during the limited non-poorly time.

‘Hearing your child say you are beautiful with a bald head and no breasts has reinforced that our bodies do not define us as people.

‘It is who we are on the inside that matters most.’

Lorna Murchie, managing director of Lorna Drew, said: ‘This is a why we call this competition Everyday Superwoman. These are real women battling a real crisis under difficult circumstances. Debbie is a deserving winner.’