A woman in the United States made a Cinderella costume all her own by using not only glass slippers but also a glass prosthetic arm.
Mandy Pursley noticed a lack of representation of amputees in fairytale stories, so she took it upon herself to make magic happen by sewing her own costume and having a “glass” arm made of resin.
She was saving the photos of her take on Cinderella for a costume competition, but a friend asked if she had pictures she could share to a girl born with one arm. This prompted Pursley to post her photos on Facebook last Sept. 19.
https://www.facebook.com/mandypursley/posts/10157396522158830?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAGK82a0bJ4jt64t2hFS0_I5e0KlylKtyHXQhNf8mX_WQXE4VfOI69mENSZ8b_UYv6FOAF4FzpaaKmHyNNXY4SlyMW5oXSPlhM1qxY_XZSL8VzjoiSYB9Y2WRFZiBj-wG8Qta_ANRKRNOlRXK48k9tJtG9z8fkmBv_CHcRR1BsKG_dnOoPEjX-6ORR-_t4FeCHA1WeM3927rmuBQg&__tn__=-R
Posing with Pursley as Prince Charming was her husband, Ryan Pursley, whom she said supported her even if she spent months sewing both their costumes. The pictures include one that shows Cinderella being chased by the prince because she left her glass arm.
“When I was growing up with a physical difference, I never saw girls like myself represented in the media, so it took me a long time to realize that what makes us different can also be the thing that makes us strong, beautiful, and unapologetically unique,” she said. “So what do you do when you can’t find a princess like you? You make up your own!”
The pictures have since inspired many in a short span of time, earning 26,000 shares as of this writing. She has since made a page called “Be the Spark Cosplay” to showcase her next costume projects.
Pursley has posted photos to demonstrate how she sews with one arm on the page.
https://www.facebook.com/bethesparkcosplay/posts/112974436767881?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBYWZFaB1LreSsYhY3F1QCdd5IPMgYAGMucLLeLk-pKKclZPKSvcsc96he092G-wjDRt42wqHfqPXcPoZ-0RHnnxQXUwlgZi_Cc3qyYtSgoZgHMAN-puVNiavk97SLd0OH_qtJg9RUMC-__hjiNlA_YaVKJmEfKpbLGTB4VxGnbDbFD4nfefxEvr16lDcN8EMuJ6Rg6EvYMLXg4c9kt26gZ2s58GcXok2iVNiXP7gwBI1a-E_nvljBEwUEpLzO1k8k3315o85h_yMABjuNXuNjj1LogSq_4TsALB29tMWbGGiDcEWCQDN4MB2QHqUWtCC66fAcy5PMcvmKneNYM5-Q&__tn__=-R
Just like Cinderella, Pursley is resourceful when it comes to sewing: “I still say the secret is feet—it’s kind of like having THREE hands.” /ra
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