Teenager whose right leg is TWICE the size of her left poses in a bikini to inspire body confidence in those with disabilities

@naijapost247A teenager whose leg grew to twice its normal size is inspiring body confidence among people with disabilities by posing in a bikini.

Isa-Bella Leclair, 19, was born with a genetic condition called Parkes Weber Syndrome, which caused her right leg to swell.

The college student's leg grew to around 40lbs (18kg) - leaving her unable to play most sports or wear tight-fitting jeans.

However, Isa-Bella is now out to challenge modern beauty standards by showing her confidence in her body. 

Isa-Bella Leclair, 19, whose leg grew to twice its normal size due is inspiring body confidence among people with disabilities by posing in a bikini

Isa-Bella was born with a genetic condition called Parkes Weber Syndrome, which caused her right leg to grow to weigh 40lbs (18kg)

Isa-Bella is undergoing lymph node massages and wears a compression bandage (pictured) in a bid to reduce the swelling in her leg

Last month she won a title in a beauty pageant in her hometown of Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada, which she hopes will raise further awareness about her condition.

Isa-Bella said: 'My condition doesn't define me and there's no way I would let it stop me from wearing a cute swimsuit or a cute dress.

'For me confidence is the most important part because when people see someone confident in their body - even with a disability - they don't have pity but instead admiration.'

Isa-Bella was born with the rare mutation of the RASA-1 gene causing the lymph nodes in her leg to malfunction.

She said: 'The lymphatic fluid in my body goes into my leg and because the system doesn't work properly it doesn't go back, so it stays there and swells my leg.'

PARKES WEBER SYNDROME: A RARE CONGENITAL CONDITION

Parkes Weber Syndrome (PWS) is a rare congenital (present at birth) condition that results in children having a large number of abnormal blood vessels.

It’s very similar to the more common Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome and is treated in much the same way.

In contrast to children who have Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, kids with PWS have arteriovenous malformations that can cause heart failure.

Possible complications of PWS include:

swelling and overgrowth of one of the child’s limbs (usually a leg)

bleeding from the capillary malformation (sometimes called a “port-wine stain”), which is a flat, warm, pinkish stain that appears at birth and typically covers a large area

the large amount of blood flowing to the affected limb can wear out the child’s heart.

Source: Boston's Children's Hospital

Despite receiving stares and attention when her leg is on display, Isa-Bella says it's important be confident in yourself.

She said: 'I think it's important for people who have health issues to not only work on getting healthy but to work on loving yourself and accepting who you are.

'For me, beauty isn't just on the outside. When I say someone is beautiful I see someone who makes you feel good when you're around them.'

Isa-Bella's mother, Joanne Leclair, 45, noticed a difference in her daughter's appearance the moment she was born.

At birth Isa-Bella, a twin, whose sister Danyka does not have the condition, was misdiagnosed with Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome, a similar condition which can cause extra growth in one limb, for which little information was available.

Mrs Leclair said: 'I literally realised something was wrong with her body the moment she was born.

'In the coming days the doctor did research, because it was very rare, and he came back with a primary diagnosis which changed over time.

'One thing her doctors told us was that they didn't know if she would walk normally or whether she would be affected by the condition.'

Later, Isa-Bella was diagnosed with Parkes Weber Syndrome, a condition that is present from birth which leads to children having a large number of abnormal blood vessels.

Body-positive Isa-Bella posts inspirational photos in a bikini

Isa-Bella, pictured with sister Danyka, is now out to challenge modern beauty standards by showing she is confident in her body

When she was younger, Isa-Bella would explain to children that she was 'born this way' and says they would soon play with her

Last month Isa-Bella won a title in a beauty pageant in her hometown, which she hopes will raise further awareness about her condition

Despite the family's concerns, Isa-Bella became well informed of her condition as a child and had no problem explaining it to curious people.

She said: 'Growing up I felt different depending on the surroundings I was in.

'When I was in public at the mall or beach, people would stare at me.

I think it's important for people who have health issues to not only work on getting healthy but to work on loving yourself and accepting who you are

Isa-Bella Leclair, 19 

'I had to grow up faster than other kids and had to realise what I had and that it was normal for people to be curious.

'I would explain to people my own age, saying just simply, "I was born this way".

'Children were just curious but once they knew I was okay they just played with me.

'Adults were different because even when my mom explained to them, they still looked concerned.'

Her condition also causes excess blood due to a greater number of capillaries and arteries - meaning Isa-Bella's heart works harder than an average person's.

But growing up it never stopped her from group activities such as baton twirling and snowboarding.

Mrs Leclair said: 'As a mom, I would expect her to come back home from school crying because she couldn't do something, but that day never came - not once.

Physical therapist Manon Tardif helps Isa-Bella to apply bandages to her leg. She is also undergoing a three-week course of lymph draining massages

According to Isa-Bella, the bandages 'help push the lymph fluid back into my body'

'Whatever she wanted to do she did it, whether it was riding a bike or snowboarding.'

And for Isa-Bella, there is hope for the management of her condition.

A three-week course of lymph draining massages with physical therapist, Manon Tardif, has yielded promising results.

Isa-Bella said: 'I have been wearing a compression bandage to push the lymph fluid back up into my body where the lymph nodes work normally.

In the past three weeks, Isa-Bella has lost eight pounds in weight from her leg, a sure sign that her current method of treatment is working

Despite her condition, Isa-Bella's mother (left) says that she has never let it stop her from doing things

'The plan is to continue the compression garments to further reduce the swelling.

'In the last three weeks I lost six centimeters from around my leg and eight pounds in weight, from around 146lbs (66 kg) to 139lbs (63kg).'

And her positive attitude keeps her looking towards the future where she hopes to inspire others with her confidence.

Isa-Bella said: 'Seeing children with disabilities and seeing them living life, I said to myself, "why would I limit myself to not being as happy as them?"

'I just stick to living life simply, and not overcomplicating things.'