The life of a fashion model can appear exhilarating — you travel the globe and spend days in exotic locations. You’ll be lauded for your looks and make your living based upon the shape of your body, tilt of your eyes and the glow of your skin.  But in an industry driven solely by appearance, physical changes or imperfections (i.e., weight gain, scarring, hair loss, etc.) could spell the end of a career. 

Imagine then, being 21-year old Brazilian fitness model Paola Antonini, who at the beginning of a promising career, suffered a devastating loss.  Today, nearly five years later, she lives life without limitations as a successful working model, social media influencer, columnist, positive body image advocate and amputee.  Here is her story.

Physiotherapy began immediately, and frustration and negativity gave way to determination and confidence.  Paola did not want to be defined nor limited by her injuries.   In April 2016, she proudly shared a modeling photo which highlighted her above-knee amputation.  The post went viral and earned her worldwide renown as a source of inspiration to others in similar situations.  Focused on resuming her modeling career, Paola continued to engage on social media, documenting her progress and setbacks, quickly amassing over 2.5 million followers.   

Paola leads a very busy life. Whether she is on the road travelling to her next job, or relaxing at home, Paola needs to be able to rely on her prosthetic solution for peace of mind and the ability to tackle the different environments she encounters day-to-day. Her prosthetic foot allows her the opportunity to change her footwear quickly and easily to suit her outfits. Its heel-height adjustability means she doesn’t have to worry about the potential effect of different shoes on her posture and movements. It may seem like a trivial thing, but being able to wear all kinds of footwear, or even just walk barefoot, helps give Paola a sense of independence. And it’s something many of her online followers, especially women, ask about.