Photographer: Carly Wollaert ©
Make-up artist: Sharmila Vooren
Sophie-Anne Onland
Public speaker & Diversity and Inclusion Expert
About
”I was born with a shorter left leg and have been walking with a below-knee prosthetic leg my entire life. I share my story and experiences through public speaking and workshops with the goal of inspiring and motivating my audience to embrace their differences and promote a more equitable and inclusive society. I want to make every ‘difference’, visible or invisible, discussable to ultimately normalise it. The importance of representation, diversity and self-acceptance is always central.”
What advice would you give to your younger self?
“My story is about self-acceptance and embracing differences. I would advise my younger self to embrace myself and be proud of my unique qualities and differences, and to not be ashamed of them. I may also encourage my younger self to seek out and find a community/rolemodel that accepts and supports me, and to not conform to societal norms or media representations of what is considered “normal.”