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A woman decided not to wear a tampon while running the London Marathon on her period to encourage women across the world to be proud of their periods.

Kiran Gandhi, 26, let her period flow freely during the 26-mile race in a bid to raise awareness about people who have no access to feminine products.

(Image: Courtesy Kiran Gandhi)

She urged women to embrace that time of the month, rather than hide away in shame.

And after the race, she proudly posed for photographs with family and friends wearing her blood-stained running trousers.

Kiran wrote on her website, with the heading 'Sisterhood, blood and boobs': "I ran the whole marathon with my period blood running down my legs.

(Image: Courtesy Kiran Gandhi)

"I ran with blood dripping down my legs for sisters who don't have access to tampons and sisters who, despite cramping and pain, hide it away and pretend like it doesn't exist.

"On the marathon course, sexism can be beaten.

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"If there's one way to transcend oppression, it's to run a marathon in whatever way you want.

"Where the stigma of a woman's period is irrelevant and we can re-write the rules as we choose."

(Image: Courtesy Kiran Gandhi)

The Harvard Business School graduate got her period the night before the race and thought it would be uncomfortable to wear a tampon.

After finishing the race in four hours, 49 minutes and 11 seconds, she told Cosmopolitan: "I felt very empowered by that."