Fulvia Pellegrino went so far as to sell her guns, cars, and even a house in France to finance the cosmetic procedures she hoped would transform her appearance.
This Italian trans woman, originally from Peveragno, kept her gender identity private for decades. Her story became known internationally in 2016, when she said she had spent approximately 76.000 dollars on various procedures.
The procedures included four breast augmentation surgeries, two liposuctions, and more than 150 filler injections in her lips and cheekbones.
However, the changes also brought social rejection. Fulvia said that some neighbors pointed at her and talked about her, to the point that she described herself as “the clown of Peveragno”.
Despite the criticism and financial difficulties, she said at the time that she still wanted to undergo more procedures because she was not satisfied with her appearance.
Her story reflects both the financial cost of her procedures and the personal and social difficulties she said she faced during the process.