A model and fashion shop owner in Southport has been honoured as a finalist of Ms Curvaceous UK – a year after being rushed to hospital when she suddenly found herself paralysed from the waist down.
Debbie-Lyn Connolly-Lloyd, who runs Debbie-Lyn Apparel in Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street in Southport, has revealed her delight at the honour.
The last year has been a journey of dramatic highs and lows for Debbie-Lyn, who opened her shop in the arcade on 24th July 2023, earning a loyal following of customers.
In May, Debbie-Lyn won the Diversity and Inclusion Award at the inaugural Pdie of Sefton Awards at The Grand in Southport.
This Sunday (1st October) she is hosting her Inclusive Fashion Show Southport.
Looking back on her dramatic year, Debbie-Lyn said: “I became suddenly paralysed, but a year later, I have been announced as Ms Curvaceous UK Finalist!
“I am a well-known, professional, published curve model based in Southport.
Debbie-Lyn Connolly Lloyd has won the Sefton Diversity and Inclusion Award, sponsored by Sefton Council, at the 2023 Pride Of Sefton Awards. The award was presented by Mayor of Sefton Cllr Clare Louise Carragher. Photo by Kevin Brown Photography
“I have been walking the runway for designers at some of the UK’s most influential Fashion Weeks for five years, but all that changed when I became numb from the waist down.
“The day it happened started like any other. I did the school run to collect my children one Monday afternoon, went food shopping, and went home.
“Suddenly the bottom half of my body became paralysed. I was terrified, but I tried to play it cool to my children who finished putting the shopping away whilst I called 111 the NHS medical advice line to see what I should do.
“They immediately identified that this was a serious situation and sent me an ambulance to rush me into A and E at Southport Hospital.
“I had to be admitted for extensive tests and two inpatient MRI scans.
“The tests kept coming back normal, which was reassuring but very confusing too!
“Eventually I saw a neurologist and was diagnosed with a neurological condition called FND (Functional Neurological Disorder).
“This was the summer of 2022. I needed assistance with absolutely everything at the beginning, I had carers coming three times a day, and I was fitted for a wheelchair.
Debbie-Lyn Connolly-Lloyd, who runs Debbie-Lyn Apparel in Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street in Southport, has been honoured as a finalist of Ms Curvaceous UK
“I tried hard to stay positive, which wasn’t always easy, but I had four little people watching me, so I decided to learn everything I could about this devastating diagnosis to try and get better.
“My confidence in my ability grew after regular physiotherapy, and psychotherapy, pushing myself to go out in public in my wheelchair made my physical tics worse, and I still felt embarrassed.
“The effort of wheeling myself sent me into violent seizures, but I just had to keep pushing myself, determined to make my children proud and get back to plus size modelling which I loved!
“I had entered a national competition, with Ms Curvaceous UK and had been chosen from thousands of applicants to be in the semi final in London in February 2023.
“I decided that I was going to attend, wheelchair or no wheelchair.
“I took part in the photoshoot for the Ms Curvaceous Semi Finals at the famous Leake Street Tunnels in London, I used my wheelchair to get around and even have some shots in, I used my walking stick to stand for a few, and even managed a short walk with my stick!
“I felt so proud of myself for pushing through and entering! but I never in a million years expected to be chosen as a finalist! But it’s true!
“From hundreds of semi finalists I was just announced as a finalist!
Debbie-Lyn Connolly-Lloyd, who runs Debbie-Lyn Apparel in Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street in Southport, has been honoured as a finalist of Ms Curvaceous UK
“I cannot believe that my dream to represent diversity in the mainstream fashion industry has come true!
“and more importantly, that I have pushed through such difficult times and shown my children that we never give up, whatever comes our way!”
Debbie-Lyn opened her new women’s fashion boutique at Wayfarers Arcade in Southport earlier this summer.
Debbie-Lyn Apparel, which stocks inclusive fashion available in a variety of styles and sizes, is the latest business to move into the iconic Victorian arcade on Lord Street.
Her new venture in Wayfarers Arcade has been another cause for celebration this year.
She said: “My new shop has been really busy since we opened!
“I have made lots of sales, and more importantly, I have loved giving women some fashion advice to choose their ideal designs to flatter their shape.”
Debbie-Lyn Connolly-Lloyd is opening her new shop Debbie-Lyn Apparel in Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Debbie-Lyn Apparel offers ‘unapologetic fashion in sizes 8-28’ with lots of unique, colourful items on display, many in collaboration with other local fashion designers and business owners.
Exclusive items on sale include unique hand-painted leather jackets by GoGairy, sportswear by designer Lissa MJY, funky bags by Daisy Amour, Jonah and Lily Sterling Silver Jewellery and more.
- Debbie-Lyn Apparel is at Wayfarers Shopping Arcade on Lord Street in Southport PR8 1NT. For more details please Like the Debbie-Lyn Apparel page on Facebook and Follow the debbielynapparel account on Instagram.
- For more on Wayfarers Arcade please visit: www.wayfarersarcade.co.uk
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