Ex-WAG Stephanie Heaney is an international model whose dazzling pictures have been plastered on magazines and billboards for thousands to admire.
But beyond the glitz of social media and the glamour of Playboy, the Glaswegian endures “unbearable pain” that causes her to cry most days.
The mum-of-two opened up to the Daily Star about her severe gastric health issues – and said things took a “turn for the worst” after her sister, Lyndsey, took her own life in 2019.
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(Image: Stephanie Heaney)
She is now sharing her story to encourage people to simply be more kind to each other as her hidden illness proves you never know what someone is going through.
Stephanie is well known for once dating Rangers cult hero Nacho Novo in 2017 before later becoming Scotland’s oldest Playboy model at the age of 38.
But throughout the highest of highs and lowest of lows in the last decade, she was quietly suffering on a daily basis.
The brave Scot explained: “I’ve had ongoing health issues progressively getting worse over the last ten years.
“As I’ve aged the gastric issues have become very intense and extremely painful, so much so that it’s debilitating and I’m in tears most days with the pain.
“When my little sister unfortunately passed away through suicide my health really took a turn for the worst and I was really feeling absolutely helpless but I knew I had to at least try and get the help I needed and it’s still an ongoing. I will forever encourage others to reach out and seek the help and support they need.”
(Image: Stephanie Heaney)
She wants to raise awareness for gastric diseases like Crohn’s colitis – which causes flammation in the large intestine.
This has forced Stephanie to be in and out of hospital with dangerous blood pressure levels and she has needed morphine to manage the pain.
Her most recent hospital stay lasted 12 days and as for her lowest moment, she said: “It was when I couldn’t walk and was unable to dress myself through being so weak and in pain and also being pushed everywhere in a wheelchair.
“It makes you really think how hard it is for so many other people a lot worse off than I am. I am lucky to have the support I do and have the best people around me, lots of other people don’t have that and it’s really sad.”
Stephanie said while her health battle has not hindered relationships with others, it has impacted her relationship with herself.
That is because she is constantly anxious about the possibility of becoming unwell when she is out in public.
But despite fighting to control her condition, including getting iron infusions while visiting her gastric team, she said she was “incredibly proud” of everything she has still managed to achieve.
(Image: Stephanie Heaney)
She added: “Before I did Playboy I was very concerned about how I would manage especially I have a very restricted diet and if I do eat something I’m not supposed to my condition flares up even worse than normal and it is unbearable pain.
“But the team were amazing and I felt so comfortable. We were like a little family and we had the best time and really supported each other and we worked incredibly hard.”
Stephanie continued: “I feel it is incredibly important that women embrace every opportunity in life and when they feel good and confident to be brave enough to put themselves out there.
“It doesn’t have to be lingerie but an outfit they feel amazing in or a sex pair of heels can really lift your spirits. I have had more bad days than good recently so when I feel good within myself I want to show it off.”