Life-Saving & Stigma-Busting: 5 Celebrities Who Proudly Share Their Stoma Bag Stories In 2024

Living with a stoma bag, also known as an ostomy, is a life-altering reality for millions of people worldwide, but it remains a topic often shrouded in silence and stigma. As of December 2025, a powerful wave of celebrity advocates is breaking down these barriers, using their public platforms to share their personal, often life-saving, journeys. These individuals are proving that an ostomy is not an ending, but a new beginning that allows them to live life to the fullest, championing body confidence and vital health awareness for conditions like Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. The decision to reveal a stoma—whether it's an ileostomy or a colostomy—is incredibly personal, yet the impact of these high-profile figures speaking out is immeasurable. Their candidness provides crucial visibility, normalizes the medical reality of chronic illness, and offers a beacon of hope for newly diagnosed patients and those struggling with ostomy acceptance. Their stories are a testament to resilience, strength, and the life-saving nature of this essential surgery.

The New Faces of Ostomy Advocacy: Profiles in Courage

The landscape of ostomy awareness has been dramatically reshaped by a new generation of reality stars, models, and public figures who are integrating their stoma bags into their professional and social lives. Their openness is driving a global conversation about Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and chronic conditions.

Louise Thompson: The Reality Star’s Life-Saving Ileostomy

• Full Name: Louise Thompson
• Known For: Reality TV Star (*Made in Chelsea*), Author, Fitness Influencer.
• Medical Condition: Ulcerative Colitis (UC).
• Stoma Type: Ileostomy (temporary or permanent).
• Latest Update: Revealed her stoma in April 2024, calling it "life-saving."

Louise Thompson's health journey has been closely followed by millions, particularly after suffering severe complications following the birth of her son. In a candid post in early 2024, she revealed she had undergone emergency surgery and was fitted with a life-saving stoma bag. Thompson, who was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2018, described the decision as a necessary step after years of debilitating illness and painful flare-ups.

Her advocacy is focused on the emotional and physical reality of living with a stoma. She has actively shared images and videos of her bag, stating that she does not want to hide it because it "represents life" and has given her back her freedom.

Mollie Pearce: The Traitors Star Naming Her Stoma ‘Sid’

• Full Name: Mollie Pearce
• Known For: TV Personality (*The Traitors*, *Dancing on Ice*), Model.
• Medical Condition: Ulcerative Colitis (UC).
• Stoma Type: Colostomy/Ileostomy (Affectionately named 'Sid').
• Latest Update: Proudly shared her stoma story ahead of her TV appearances in 2024.

Mollie Pearce became a household name on the hit BBC show *The Traitors* and later appeared on *Dancing on Ice*. She has been incredibly open about living with a chronic condition and having a stoma bag, which she has affectionately named Sid. Pearce was fitted with her stoma at the age of 18 following her diagnosis with Ulcerative Colitis.

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Her public sharing has been a powerful force for disability awareness and body positivity. She frequently discusses how the surgery, despite her initial fears, ultimately changed her life for the better, allowing her to pursue her career and live without the constant pain of her condition.

Sara Levitt: The Model and ‘Bag Bish’ Challenging Beauty Standards

• Full Name: Sara Levitt
• Known For: Canadian Model, Content Creator, Ostomy Advocate ('the Bag Bish').
• Medical Condition: Crohn's Disease and Colitis.
• Stoma Type: Ostomy.
• Advocacy Focus: Redefining beauty, body confidence, and challenging the stigma of IBD.

Sara Levitt has used her platform to redefine what it means to be a model. After years of hiding her surgery for Crohn's disease, she made the courageous decision to post bikini pictures proudly featuring her ostomy bag, earning her the nickname "the Bag Bish."

Her story is one of profound self-acceptance and defiance against the societal pressure to conceal medical realities. Levitt's viral photos and content have been instrumental in fostering a global movement for ostomy visibility and proving that a medical device does not diminish beauty or strength.

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The Stigma-Busting Power of Celebrity Ostomy Advocacy

The impact of public figures sharing their ostomy experience extends far beyond mere visibility; it is a critical component of public health education and emotional support. By openly discussing their colostomy or ileostomy, these celebrities are tackling three major areas of concern for ostomates.

Normalizing Life with a Medical Device

For decades, the stoma bag was an invisible condition, often hidden in shame. Celebrities like Mollie Pearce, who named her stoma 'Sid', and Louise Thompson, who proudly shows hers on social media, are normalizing the daily reality of living with a medical device. This open dialogue helps to reduce the feelings of isolation and embarrassment that many new ostomates face, promoting better mental health and body image acceptance.

This normalization is crucial for younger patients who are navigating their identity alongside a chronic illness. Seeing successful, confident figures with an ostomy bag provides a powerful role model and a vision for a fulfilling future.

Driving Awareness for IBD and Chronic Conditions

The majority of stoma surgeries are performed due to severe Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), primarily Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. Before surgery, these conditions often involve debilitating symptoms, including severe pain, malnutrition, and constant hospital visits. The celebrity stories highlight the seriousness of these chronic conditions and the life-saving nature of the surgical intervention.

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Pop singer Anastacia, who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 13, has been a long-time advocate, using her platform to speak about the severity of the illness and the impact it has on a person's life, including the potential need for a colostomy. Her candor encourages early diagnosis and treatment for others experiencing similar symptoms.

The Historical Figures Who Paved the Way

While the current wave of advocates is prominent, they stand on the shoulders of historical figures who also lived with an ostomy, often in secret. Legends like actor and comedian Bob Hope and golf great Al Geiberger ("Mr. 59") both had stomas. Their stories, though less public at the time, underscore the fact that an ostomy is compatible with a high-achieving, successful life.

More recently, the late *Friends* star Matthew Perry spoke in his memoir about his extensive abdominal surgeries, which included a stoma procedure, highlighting the complex and often hidden battles with health that public figures endure.

Understanding the Medical Conditions That Lead to a Stoma

The need for a stoma (a surgically created opening on the abdomen) is a result of various serious medical conditions that require the removal or bypass of a diseased section of the bowel or bladder. The most common reasons are linked to the digestive system.

• Ulcerative Colitis (UC): This is an IBD that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the innermost lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. When medical treatment fails to control the disease, a colectomy (removal of the colon) is often necessary, which results in a permanent or temporary ileostomy (as seen with Louise Thompson and Mollie Pearce).
• Crohn’s Disease: Another form of IBD, Crohn's can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Surgery is needed to remove damaged sections of the bowel, which can lead to an ileostomy or colostomy.
• Colorectal Cancer: A stoma is often required after surgery to remove a tumor in the colon or rectum. This can result in a permanent colostomy.
• Diverticulitis and Trauma: Less common causes include severe diverticulitis, injuries, or birth defects.

The collective voices of these public figures are not just sharing personal stories; they are providing a powerful, educational resource. They are shifting the narrative from one of shame and sickness to one of survival, strength, and empowerment, ultimately saving lives by encouraging awareness and early intervention for chronic conditions.