Leg selfie: An Ecuadorian woman who lost both her hands and one of her legs after a childhood accident is now working as a full-time model – and is inspiring tens of thousands of people around the world.
Victoria Salcedo, 26, had to part with her legs except for her right leg when she was only six years old, after she touched an exposed electrical cable and subsequently suffered severe burns. Over the following years, the young woman got used to using her right leg to complete daily tasks such as eating, combing and applying makeup. The difficult incident did take away her body, but not her mesmerizing beauty.
@victoriasalcedo_ ♬ Cause you make me feeeeeeel – Tomas Celis
After a few years, she was fitted with a prosthetic leg and Salcedo began to exercise and soon became addicted to exercise. “I never thought I would be an influencer for other people,” the 26-year-old said in an interview with Viral Press about her unexpected career as an influencer model. “I like to share my life with others. I appreciate that they send me questions and I answer everyone about everything.”
The young woman from the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, was spotted by a modeling agency when she was 19 years old and soon became in demand in the industry – and this despite losing her arms and legs. She helped redefine the “beauty ideal” at the Miss Ecuador pageant in 2021. “I didn’t go to the pageant to be accepted. I went to represent my country, to represent myself as a woman, as a person and as a soul, as another form of beauty,” she said.
@victoriasalcedo_ It was a day full of perry songs ????????✨ #lovememode ♬ Part Of Me – Katy Perry
She now has about 170,000 followers on the social network Instagram, with many of them praising her daily for her approach to life. “You are a miracle,” one fan wrote to her, while another added: “You inspire us all.” In addition, Salcedo hopes that her visibility will make people look at amputees differently. “For me, my goal is to change the minds of others about people who suffer from limitations like mine,” she concluded.
@victoriasalcedo_ I told you that Miss went to the wasteland! ???? #gratefull ♬ Followers – AREA21 & Martin Garrix & Maejor