11 
I have always loved being in front of the camera. When I was little, I used to get all dressed up and have my little sisters take pictures of me in our backyard.
In my first and only beauty pageant as a child. This was the beginning of my love for fashion shows.
After I started winning medals, professional photo shoots were such a treat. I would pose with my gold medals and work my angles and just have a lot of fun. As much as I adore swimming, I’ll admit that modeling interested me first. I’ve watched every season of America’s Next Top Model and imagined what it would be like to be one of those girls. And now, swimming has given me the opportunity to actually be a model.
My best look, by far (LOL). My sisters and I were playing dress-up and I threw a shirt over my head to make my “hair” longer and finish off this stunning ensemble.
My first high-fashion modeling experience was for Elle. I am the only amputee they have ever photographed for the magazine, so it was an even more meaningful experience for me. The photo shoot was in L.A., and a whole team was there to get me ready. They started with my hair, even adding hair extensions; they applied my makeup to perfection and gave me a manicure. I had never felt so pampered and glammed up. Ralph Lauren provided the clothes for the shoot. The stylist picked a deep purple dress and paired it with my high-heel legs. My “sexy legs,” as I call them, have the feet* molded with a four-inch arch so they can be worn only with high heels. A typical shoot lasts about four or five hours, and I loved every minute of it. I wanted the photographer to see that I, a girl without legs, could be a great model. I knew how to position my body, and I wanted to give them lots of options. One of the poses we did was with my legs up on a wall to show off my prosthetics. I really loved the way they allowed me to showcase who I was—a girl without her legs, which for most people would be a big deal. I want to help change the mentality of the fashion industry. I want to show everyone that our differences are what make us beautiful and unique. Elle decided to use a picture of me on a couch, posing on my knees without my prosthetics. The photo was risky, and the magazine received a lot of great press about it. It was really cool to be a part of something that showed how people with disabilities can do the same things as everyone else, including model.
One of my favorite pictures of me at seventeen years old. I made one of my sisters be the photographer, and we had a photo shoot in our backyard.
Some photo shoots have been more stressful. When a number of people are directing your movements very specifically, it can get a bit nerve-racking. I generally ignore my legs because I don’t want people around me to be focused on my “disability” or treat me any differently, but it’s a balancing act walking around in prosthetics. I’ve ripped holes in many a pair of jeans over the years from falling. Thankfully, everyone is always willing to work with me, and I’ve had only great experiences at my photo shoots. I’d like to thank Tyra Banks for all her tips through America’s Next Top Model and for teaching me how to “smize” (smile with your eyes). The hours I spent watching her show have definitely paid off.
