She Inspires Me to Know that I Am Capable of Overcoming Barriers and Persevering-- Aimee Mullins

A record-breaker at the Paralympic Games in 1996, Aimee Mullins has built a career as a model, actress, and advocate for women, sports, and the next generation of prosthetics. Mullins’ life mission is to help erase the boundaries between the “able-bodied” and the “disabled.” She has proved that in the midst of adversity is #opportunity—she has helped to dispel the myth that #individualswithdisabilities are incapable of being successful in the fashion industry. While Mullins recognizes that fashion has its limitations, she uses her power to change how people see one another, no matter their body’s abilities. Mullins says, “Fashion is a perfect arena to explore these larger societal conversations around inclusivity.”

 Mullins is a woman of many firsts. She is the first person in history to compete in the NCAA as an amputee. She made history sprinting on Georgetown University’s nationally ranked Division I team. Mullins is also the first person to ever wear Cheetah sprinting legs that are now commonly seen on Paralympians. In 1998, she graduated from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service and then began a lucrative modeling career on the London runway for the late Alexander McQueen, who counted her as a muse.

 Confidence is the sexiest thing a woman can have. It’s much sexier than any body part. –Aimee Mullins