Kelly Knox in Marie Claire UK

Every time I read an email from Kelly, I feel beautiful. Her optimism and positive energy radiates from her soul into every word, making me excited, inspired and ready to conquer the world. Many of you might remember Kelly as the winner of the 2008 BBC reality TV show Britain’s Missing Top Model. It was the first show to feature models with disabilities, demonstrating that they are missing from the fashion industry. Since winning the show, Kelly has worked extensively in the industry, including being featured in an editorial in Marie Claire shot by top fashion photographer Rankin. It is an honour and privilege to represent Kelly because she inspires me to value and celebrate my uniqueness and individuality. Now you read Kelly’s take on beauty, and be as inspired to celebrate yourself as I am.

Ever since I can remember, I have always felt beautiful …

I felt and saw beauty all around me, the sunshine, the moon, the stars… I always somehow knew that the beauty of Mother Earth existed in all of us, part of the sun, the moon, the stars are inside of us all. I believe in allowing this sunshine you shine through you, by loving who are, loving what you have became and loving what you are becoming. Ever since I can remember, I have always believed in the power of spirit, I feel as though this has been the source as to why I have never been bothered about the fact I was born with a small piece of my arm missing. I always thought that it is just my physical body, my spirit has two hands. Never in my life have I ever considered myself as having a disability (as they call it) and why should I? My arm is part of me as is my blonde hair, my blue eyes, and my fun, giggly personality! I even refuse now to be labelled! I don’t like labels or being put into a category, does it matter if you are Male? Female? Black? White? Mixed? Does it matter what age you are? Whether you are a size 6 or a size 26! Whether you have 2 hands or 1? What matters is that you have a good heart, what is inside of you. Don’t ever think just because somebody looks pretty on the outside that they are happy within, and being happy within, is the key to true happiness.

If you are happy on the inside, your happiness will shine on the outside and this in turn will make you a more confident, positive person, with goals, hopes and dreams and I believe we should all have dreams…. and dreams really do come true. This is how I challenged beauty! Who is to say what is and what isn’t beautiful!!!!!!!! Everybody has their own definition of beauty so everything is beautiful in its own right! I feel beautiful, and that is what is important and I believe it is every woman and mans birthright to feel beautiful I am constantly challenging beauty, the more modelling work I do, the more people that see this work, will see with their own eyes that I am a fantastic model, that can sell a brand or product just like any other model. Maybe once a brand or advertising company use me and see that this is the case, only then people will truly realize. Everything is possible, nothing has ever held me back in life or stopped me from doing anything, this has always been my attitude, and it always will be. Oh I do love a challenge!!!!

Right about now I am helping to redefine beauty. My wish is to bring inspiration and light to all the people that are in the dark about their own true beauty and help them to shine like the stars that they are.

Kelly Knox in Marie Claire UK