My Prosthetic Leg Doesn't Define Me

AMANDA Lopez lost her foot and many of her fingers to Amniotic Band Syndrome – a condition where a fetus gets entangled in strands of the Amniotic sac prior to birth. But the 29-year-old hasn’t let her disability stop her from inspiring others, and recently appeared in her first fashion show. Amanda, of Orlando, Florida, told Barcroft Studios: “I used to be very self-conscious and not wear shorts, skirts, or dresses because I didn't want people to stare at me. But now I've noticed that when I actually show who I am, people are more inclined to want to know my story. So it feels really good now that I have that confidence.” From day one, the Floridian has faced obstacles, having been born by c-section and immediately being taken away by doctors to deal with her condition. Mum, Maria Rendon, said: “They did tell me that she would never walk. They told me that she would be possibly mentally challenged, and possibly that her insides would not be developed correctly.” Since birth, Amanda has proven the doctors wrong on all those counts and has remained determined to pursue her dream of becoming a stylist. She even modelled in her first fashion show in late-2019 for ‘Snatchem’ Tribe’ – an Orlando-based organisation dedicated to empowering women. She said: “Any disability that you may have, you should just not let it hurt you. You should let it make you even stronger."