ChickSpeak

In the words of world-renowned athlete, actress and model Aimee Mullins:

“Beauty is when people radiate that they like themselves.”

With an indelible will and belief in herself that have put her atop three of the most competitive fields known to womankind, Mullins has more than proven People Magazine right for voting her one of their “50 Most Beautiful People in the World.”

Aimee Mullins began turning heads as a student at Georgetown University where she became the first woman with a ‘disability’ to compete in the NCAA. Born with a condition that rendered her a bilateral, below-the-knee amputee, Mullins, who’s been walking on prosthetics since the age of one, hit the ground running, setting World Records in the 100 yard dash, the 200 yard dash and the long jump, and is currently President of The Women’s Sports Foundation.

Mullins’ interest in body image and cultural perceptions of beauty led her to accept the invitation of lauded fashion designer Alexander McQueen to walk the runway in London. She made a huge splash, and soon had a modeling career that saw her on the pages of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, iD and Elle. Next on her list was acting and so far her credits include Oliver Stone’s “September” and “World Trade Center,” Matthew Barney’s cult favorite “Cremaster 3,” and the forthcoming “Quid Pro Quo”. Here the ever-quotable Mullins shares her story, and the philosophy of someone who refuses to ever take ‘no’ for an answer.

What I learned from Aimee: “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. It’s much easier to stay in known mediocrity than blossom into unknown glory.”

Be Your Own Cheerleader

“If you don’t feel that you’ve got something to offer the world it responds to you that way. It’s never the most beautiful girl who gets the most attention; it’s the one who acts like she’s the most beautiful. Every success you have, any time you survive failure, that provides momentum and I really tap into that. That’s what keeps me going”

You Are Who You Say You Are

“I refused to become the poster child for people with disabilities because it’s not about ‘us’ and ‘them.’ We’re all one of us, we’re all part of the human collective. If you make me some kind of ‘overcoming tragedy’ story, you rob people of a good human story that you don’t need to pour lots of syrup on. I really stand by that. With people like Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder, the first thing you think about is ‘musician,’ not ‘disabled.’ Our situations are tantamount to anyone’s. You can look at someone born with a silver spoon in their mouth and find something you wouldn’t want about their life. It’s like women who have to put on heels every day or wear contacts; everyone’s got their cross to bear. I’m no different. By refusing this status, the paradigm has been shifted and I’m seen as powerful and strong, not as ‘what a shame.’”

Do What You Love

“I don’t feel like my career is all that diverse because modeling, acting and being an athlete are all part of the Aimee Mullins curiosity train. I wanted to see how far I could push it as an athlete. And I’ve wanted to act since I was little. Modeling was more of a surprise that came about due to these sprinting legs that had never been seen before. I had people come up to me and say, ‘gosh, you’re beautiful, you don’t look disabled. ‘Again, it was an us vs. them concept. They were saying ‘ you’re not one of them you’re one of us.’ It makes you think - what does a beautiful woman have to look like? Why does this arena that is so frivolous have so much power over how we see ourselves?”

Obstacles Are In Your Mind

“There are no such things as insurmountable obstacles. You shouldn’t even entertain those kinds of ideas. I’m not saying things can’t test you down to the very fiber of your being, but there’s always someone who had so much less than you who managed to still move those insurmountable Everests.”

The Power of Thank You

“I’m grateful to the point of listing off things in my mind. Everyone has to figure out their own recipe for happiness, but looking at the glass as half full and remembering what you’ve got is very powerful towards shaping your paradigm for happiness and potential.”

Recipe For Success

“Self accountability is huge for me. I certainly complain once in a while like everyone else, but I don’t wallow in it, I see it as a sign that something needs to change. I’m also very into this idea of being the last man standing. Never take no for an answer. It’s all about stamina and not giving up. It’s so simple but it’s so effective. President Lincoln lost 19 elections - think about what we would have been denied if he gave up! He really believed this is what he wanted to do and he kept at it. I think that’s something that’s quintessentially American. You can invent yourself, you can adapt, you can be flexible and you can rebuild. When people fail it’s because they gave up.”

Perspective is Everything

“I see my prosthetics as fantastical, as the things that liberate me and give me wings instead of being a ball and chain. I never would have been able to walk the runway or run a race if I didn’t have them.”

Her Greatest Challenge

“Getting over what people think of me. Getting over this idea that I need approval. That I need to look outside for my rewards.”

Stay Inspired

“I keep a journal about other people and their experiences because it really helps me remember what I can do. We need to connect to the larger universal human experience, and this is a very powerful way to tap into that collective power. If you realize what human beings are capable of it’s awe inspiring. Keep dreaming big, stay curious, don’t limit yourself in your head - you’re going to face enough people setting up hurdles along the way, don’t be the person doing it to yourself.”

Acknowledge Fear

“Fear never leaves you. It’s not something you should ignore but rather something you should recognize and then go on anyway. Fear is healthy and has purpose, it helps inform us and give us compassion. It’s about the triumph over fear, not the absence of it. There are times when I feel like I can conquer the world and there are times when I feel like I can’t get out of bed. But I don’t allow the latter to take over, I just acknowledge that I feel it and move on.”

What’s next?

“I just stared with this whole acting thing so I’m going to get back out there and audition. I just did a little play in Manchester with Matthew Barney, and I’m also working on a project with MIT media lab on the first powered ankle. Maybe I’ll become a real bionic woman. I also just got a couple new pairs of legs, one pair for flats, and a pair for heels, and I’m really excited. They look fabulous. I love that my legs will look 20 for the rest of my life. I would never have inherited the ankles I have.”

This Featured Lady was profiled by Jen Sincero, a Los Angeles based writer www.jensincero.com.

Amy’s interview is courtesy of Ladies Who Launch. Become a become a Ladies Who Launch
subscriber NOW here.