Kanya Sesser didn't have an easy start to life, but that hasn't stopped her from fulfilling her dreams and believing in herself every step of the way. The 25-year-old, who currently resides in Los Angeles, is now a model and multi-athlete.
Originating from Thailand, when Kanya was just one week old, she was discovered abandoned on the steps of a Buddhist Temple. When the blanket she was covered in was unwrapped, the monks found that she had been born without legs.
She was brought up by the hospital staff for a number of years before officially being adopted at the age of 5 and moving to the United States, where she made a name for herself at an early age.
She landed her first modelling gig at the age of 15 with Billabong, and has since worked for various other brands including Nike. On top of this, she is a dedicated athlete with a love for skateboarding, surfing and mono skiing.
After working with these sports brands, she got some work with bikini and lingerie companies too. But as she explains, working in this industry allows her to change the way we think about disabilities.
Add to this the fact that she occasionally works as a motivational speaker, and you'd got a woman with some strong words to inspire us all.
Speaking in an interview with New York Daily News, she said:
"I enjoy making money from it and I love showing people what beauty can look like. These images show my strength. [Modeling] is something fun and it shows my story. I’m different and that is sexy, I don’t need legs to feel sexy.
“Not a lot of people have the confidence to realize how strong you really are inside. Most people shut themselves down [because] society makes them feel awkward with the situation they’re in. You have to make a different [path] for yourself, ’cause no one is going to do it for you."
On top of the sports she's professional at, she also finds time to play tennis, basketball, sled-hockey and swim for fun. In fact, it seems like she's far more active than most of us who have the use of our legs. Yet it seems that this all comes down to her positive outlook and self-belief.
“Since a very young age my approach to life has been to live without limits and to not be afraid to do new things," she wrote in a blog post for Billabong. "Even though there are certain things that I might not be able to do, that doesn’t stop me from trying and finding a way to do it my own way".
Kanya is a truly inspirational woman. I mean - if she can manage to make this much out of her life, then you can motivate yourself to send that job application or keep up your weekly gym routine.
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