The little girl who’s the very model of inspiration
Daisy-May lost both legs as a baby … now she’s a star for fashion chain!
BOUNCING on her prosthetic blades, double amputee Daisy-May Demetre beams as she models for a high street fashion chain.
The seven-year-old’s zest for life is plain to see.
But behind her boundless energy lies an inspiring story of determination to follow her dreams.
Born with a rare bone defect, the youngster has overcome her disability with courage and exuberance to make her way into the competitive world of modelling.
And now she has been snapped up by River Island – and even has her own Instagram following.
Daisy-May was born with fibular hemimelia, a rare defect that occurs in only one in 40,000 births where all or part of the fibula – the calf bone – is missing.
It is even rarer for it to affect both legs, as it did with DaisyMay. She had no fibula in her left leg, and only a small one in her right. The condition was identified while she was still in the womb, leaving mother Claire Reid, 36, and 35-year-old father Alex Demetre in shock.
Mr Demetre said: ‘It was heartbreaking. Her feet never formed properly, one came out like a ball and the other was very flappy.
‘They were unusable, so the best choice was to have the operation – double amputation. She could have a life with the legs she was born with, but it’s not a life, to be honest. She wouldn’t be able to do what she’s able to do today.’ Aged 18 months, Daisy-May went under the knife at Birmingham Children’s Hospital for an eight-hour operation to amputate her legs.
She now has two sets of prosthetic legs – a pair of ‘activity blades’ similar to those worn by Paralympians and another more ‘basic’ pair for school.
And not only has Daisy-May learnt to walk, run and ride a bicycle with all the confidence of other children her age, she has also become a keen gymnast. Now modelling is a passion. Her father suggested she give it a try after he saw Zebedee Management, which specialises in clients with disabilities, featured on television.
She was signed up – and won a contract with River Island to model its ‘active wear’ range online. She has also appeared on the catwalk at London Fashion Week and has done a number of shoots for other stores.
Daisy-May has her own page on Instagram – and already has more than 3,000 followers. Mr Demetre, who lives in Northfield, Birmingham, with Miss Reid and Daisy-May’s siblings Morgam, 17, Charlie, 12, and ten-year-old Ella, said: ‘She’s inspirational, full of energy, nothing will stop her ever in life. She’s going to be the most famous double amputee on this planet – there’s no stopping her.’
The water company maintenance worker added: ‘She wants to do what other people can do. The two rules I live by with my daughter are: never quit anything, and never be afraid to show who you are because if you do you’re not yourself.’