Elizabeth “Lizzy” Holmes, a double amputee, recently signed a modeling contract with UK modeling agency Talent Management.
Elizabeth “Lizzy” Holmes, a double amputee, recently signed a modeling contract with Talent Management, making her reportedly the United Kingdom’s first double amputee to land a modeling contract.
Holmes, 24, had both legs amputated in 2012 after several surgeries throughout her lifetime failed to correct her condition, known as bilateral congenital talipes equinovaurus (aka, club foot).
These included 36 surgeries, beginning at age 7 months, to correct her tibia and fibula. By age 21, Holmes had chronic arthritis and painful bone shards in her ankle joints. At that point, Holmes’ doctors told her there was nothing more they could do to help her, so she asked to have her legs amputated, a media release from Talent Management explains.
Holmes had trained as a nurse, but had to quit due to the demands of the work. She is now studying with the Open University to become a primary school teacher.
According to the release, Holmes came to the attention of Talent Management after submitting her story to Suzy O’Connor, its operations manager.
O’Connor notes in the release that that while signing Holmes to the agency had everything to do with her positive attitude and fearless approach to living despite her obstacles, it is also indicative of changing attitudes and a new emphasis on diversity in the modeling industry.
“Her whole countenance is just extraordinary,” O’Connor says. “As an agency, we get inquiries specifically for disabled models, because we are living in a society that is represented by people of all walks of life, and that’s the philosophy by which our agency has always operated.
“Elizabeth is a remarkable person, and we are thrilled to represent her,” she adds.
[Source(s): Talent Management, PRWeb]
