Amanda: I used to be very self-conscious
not wear shorts, not wear skirts
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.
No matter what disability you have
anything is possible.
This is my first fashion show
I don’t want to fall flat on my face.
Typically
when I get up in the morning just kind of
roll out of bed
like so.
Sometimes it’s kind of difficult
to try to put on.
So I have to
put it on take it off
a couple of times
before it will actually go on.
It’s a little tight,
and voila.
Usually my routine starts at five thirty in the morning
it’s pretty early
my hand moves too much
it will destroy the whole eyebrow.
Sometimes it used to hurt so bad actually try to put it on
so I just leave it off and just kind of hop along
to my table to start getting ready for the day.
I was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome.
Its amniotic fluid that forms in the sack
and there’s bands that kind of protect the sack
and what happens is
you can actually go through that sack
and those bands can remove your different parts.
I lost my foot where my prosthetic is
on my fingers as well,
I have a light kind of plug it in, and I just tap it.
Typically everything is here,
so I try to multitask everything
so I start grabbing literary everything I can.
Maria: All they kept saying is she had hand and feet problems,
and possibly that her insides
were going to be backwards
because a lot of children that are born
with extremity issues
their insides are
usually
not in the right place, or backwards.
They said that she was possibly mentally retarded
that was a little mind boggling
they weren’t sure
what it was or what caused it.
Manuel: She would come home from school
and she would talk to me the way kids were
why they were looking at her weird.
It wasn’t easy for her.
Not through elementary, middle high school
it wasn’t easy for her.
But she held her head up high.
She never let nothing stop her.
Nothing.
Amanda: And just ...
And that’s my morning routine.
Fashion to me is huge
shopping itself
just gives me that ...
I don’t even know how to explain it.
I guess I would say it like that euphoria.
Any disability you may have
you should let it make you even stronger.
Because I do things
that I didn’t even think I could do.
If I can’t reach it,
I love that I have a prosthetic,
I just use it and I extend it up
to pick up anything that I might need.
[Laughter]
We just had to get my own way of doing it.
My own style
in a sense.
So I did the best I can with what I have.
So my dream was to have my own closet.
So the minute I had that opportunity
I decided to kind of fill it up.
I’m very very very passionate about fashion.
The whole concept of just
getting ready
always looking your best.
This I have to say is like
my favorite piece.
It’s kind of hard
because I have so much,
love this.
I'll wear it...
I’m in Florida so I haven’t been able to wear it yet
but it’ll probably have to be one of my favorites.
My focus with my social media is
my fashion,
trying to put outfits together,
I take lots of pictures myself,
I do videos here and there
“it’s me again.”
When I actually show who I am
people are more inclined
to want to know my story.
Like this
and then hold for dear life.
Okay I'm safe now.
[laughter]
I feel like the one thing that it really does affect is
love life is pretty difficult.
It’s really hard.
I feel like a lot of times its
“oh she’s pretty, she’s beautiful body"
"but I don’t know if I can date her because of her disability.”
That really ... it's really hard.
Especially different stories
and seeing people in love and I’m like,
"Is that going to happen for me?"
It’s hard.
Jemmiah: Amanda
Amanda: Jemmiah.
[Laughter]
Today I will be in a local fashion show.
The company is called Snatchem' Tribe
they are actually a company that for empowering women.
Women all around Orlando.
My biggest dream
is to be a celebrity stylist.
I’ve never seen a stylist that has a prosthetic.
This is my first fashion show
I am extremely,
extremely nervous.
Oh I love that one.
you put that one me every time I go to mac.
Female Speaker: This one?
Amanda: Yup.
Jemmiah: I knew we had this fashion show coming up
I pushed her "Amanda you have to go after this,"
"you have to do this."
"Amanda we need you as one of our models."
but you're going to go just right to the middle
you have 45 seconds.
to get through this, okay?
Amanda: I’m just like kind of curious with the walk
they showed us
but I’m still kind of confused.
So I’m hoping I go last
and
from there
they should
hopefully show me again then I’ll be able to tell.
I don’t want to do the wrong thing
with my prosthetic I don’t want to be limping.
Jemmiah: This is your moment okay?
So take that, that's for you.
Amanda: I don’t want to fall flat on my face.
Presenter: We thank you so much for coming out tonight
again this is Snatchem' Tribe presents
the Emma Amme experience
so I hope you all enjoy tonight thank you.
[Ovation]
Amanda: I’m not going to show that I’m nervous.
I just, I want this to open doors
for other people like me.
This just felt so good.
Jemmiah: She looked confident,
I was so proud of Amanda.
Presenter: Are you ready?
Get your cameras ready because its about to get hype.
Amanda: Anything is possible.
Absolutely anything,
never let your disability stop you.
Never let it stop you.