My left hand was missing when I was born. So growing up, I had to deal with being a somewhat disabled person. And I never once saw someone like me! Not on the streets, not on tv, not in my books, not anywhere… Quite hard for a young girl growing up.

So when my sister started doing portrait photography, I got into modeling. At first, it started just being fun and helping my sister practice her craft. But after a while, it began to turn into a mission! I never had a role model, and there are so many young girls growing up being different. So I wanted to become the role model I never had.

And so I started getting modeling jobs just about anywhere. I’ve been a photo model for covers of magazines, in bridal editorials and beauty shoots. And it’s been great! I get a lot of feedback from girls who were born missing a hand saying they are now proud to show off their arms too. And that’s amazing to hear! To help girls with disabilities change their attitude towards themselves, to love every inch of themselves.

My dreams are still a lot bigger than this. I hope one day it will be normal for girls in wheelchairs to be cast as the pretty girl in a tv show or a movie, and for girls with one leg to be models in Vogue’s fashion report for their unique beauty, so there’s still a long way to go. But… I’m already proud of where we’re going!

Photos made by Blik en Bloos fotografie.

More info: blikenbloos.nl

It took me a while to be this comfortable with my disability

My left hand was missing when I was born. So growing up I had to deal with being different

When my sister started doing photography, I got into modeling

After a while it started to turn into a mission! I never had a role model, and there are so many young girls growing up being different

So I wanted to become the role model I never had

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