Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1034189
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 SEPTEMBER 2018 THE Q&A What are the biggest challenges you face because of your condition, both in everyday life and in fashion? The biggest challenges I face are mainly stigma, from people who believe that being in a wheelchair means that you don't have anything to offer to this world, who believe you are different and think that you can- not succeed as any other human being. Another chal- lenge is accessibility. Unfortunately although there has been a lot of improvement, accessibility still lacks, it is not the first time that I was not able to go into a shop or a restaurant because of the stairs. When it comes to fashion the most challenging thing I find is sizing, because of my short stature sometimes clothes don't fit and I have to make alterations or resort to the children's clothing section. Although there is nothing wrong with that, sometimes children's clothes are too childish for an adult to wear. The same goes with shoes, I wear children sized shoes and sometimes they are too childish for me to wear. Also, I love high-heeled shoes and it is almost impossible to find anything my size. Thankfully, with a lot of research sometimes I manage to find something online. What advice would you give anyone facing similar challenges? The advice I would give to anyone facing similar challenges, first of all is to never give up. Sometimes it does get hard especially when faced with particu- lar challenges, but as they say…when there's a will, there's a way! Always follow your dreams no matter what life throws at you, it's very easy to get disheart- ened when something doesn't work out the way you anticipated but… persistence is key to success. If you really want it, you'll manage to find a way to make it happen. Secondly, don't be afraid to challenge stigmas. For stigmas not to exist anymore, they must be challenged and proven otherwise. Therefore, don't be afraid to go against the current. Lastly, be yourself, always. Don't try to be someone you're not just to be liked or accepted. Being yourself is what distinguishes you from anyone else, beauty is in diversity, embrace it and celebrate it, always. TELL US...