Latest / Tilly Talks Tech / Her hand got her rejected from her job, now she's a BIONIC MODEL! Hayley Odwyer on Tilly Talks Tech!

Transcript

Her hand got her rejected from her job, now she's a BIONIC MODEL! Hayley Odwyer on Tilly Talks Tech! · Tilly Talks Tech

0:00
SPEAKER_02: What is up, transformers, and welcome back to Tilly Talks Tech, or welcome too, if you're new.
0:03
SPEAKER_02: Either way, thank you for tuning in.
0:04
SPEAKER_02: My name is Tilly, I'm your host, and I am super excited for today's episode because I've met this woman in the flesh, and she is just a boss.
0:12
SPEAKER_02: What happens when an industry that's supposed to save you says you're not capable enough, and the one that's supposed to be super shallow says come as you are?
0:19
SPEAKER_02: Finally.
0:19
SPEAKER_02: Today I'm sitting down with Haley O'Dwyer, model, mum, and somebody who spent years being told what she couldn't do before she decided to just do it anyway.
0:28
SPEAKER_02: I've timed this one quite nice for us because obviously it is London Fashion Week.
0:31
SPEAKER_02: And we get into the juicy details of the conversations that need to be had around more representation on the runway.
0:37
SPEAKER_02: Haley tells all.
0:38
SPEAKER_02: In this London Fashion Week, Tilly Talks Tech, Haley O'Dwyer exclusive.
0:43
SPEAKER_02: Let's get her on.
0:44
SPEAKER_02: Hello Hailey, welcome to Tilly Talks Tech.
0:46
SPEAKER_02: I'm so excited to have you here.
0:48
SPEAKER_02: How are you feeling?
0:49
SPEAKER_00: Well, it's very hot here, but I'm I'm feeling good.
0:52
SPEAKER_02: Honestly, it makes me laugh like having you on the podcast because the last time we saw each other was at that models of diversity event in London.
1:00
SPEAKER_02: We took a picture all together and I put it on my story, and I was like, we're thinking of starting an army or a podcast, and here we are.
1:08
SPEAKER_00: It happened.
1:09
SPEAKER_02: It happened.
1:10
SPEAKER_02: What have you been up to since I last saw you then?
1:12
SPEAKER_02: I know that's a big question, but just the usual.
1:15
SPEAKER_00: I like to dabble in some shows.
1:17
SPEAKER_00: As you do.
1:18
SPEAKER_00: As you do.
1:19
SPEAKER_00: Um, I love it when it becomes like just your norm.
1:22
SPEAKER_00: Like, yeah.
1:22
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
1:23
SPEAKER_00: It's doing a show.
1:24
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, period.
1:25
SPEAKER_00: Like if you'd have told me you're gonna be walking shows next year, I would not have believed you at all.
1:30
SPEAKER_00: But yeah.
1:31
SPEAKER_02: Why is that just like shyness?
1:32
SPEAKER_00: It just didn't even cross your mind.
1:34
SPEAKER_00: I think it was a confidence thing, but I think it had never crossed my mind because I just thought I'd never have the confidence to do that.
1:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, but I think once you find that confidence and you do do it, you're like, this is so cool.
1:47
SPEAKER_02: It must feel incredible.
1:49
SPEAKER_02: Like, obviously, I've had my own personal journey with confidence and everybody does right.
1:54
SPEAKER_02: And like the second you like put yourself out there in such like a drastic way as well.
1:59
SPEAKER_02: Like, we're talking about walking down a runway where there's an audience and like there's cameras, but a lot could go wrong, you know.
2:04
SPEAKER_02: When you just like put yourself in the deep end like that, it doesn't matter how nervous you are, like you're gonna finish that runway, you're gonna come to the end, to the corner, and you're like, I did it.
2:14
SPEAKER_00: I think with the shows as well, it's literally over so quickly as well.
2:20
SPEAKER_00: And then after we've done one, you're like, Yeah, I want to do them all.
2:23
SPEAKER_00: I can do them all.
2:24
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's kind of did you get like addicted?
2:26
SPEAKER_02: You're like, wait, I like it.
2:28
SPEAKER_00: I ended up finding myself in the deep end.
2:31
SPEAKER_00: Um, and I'm glad I did actually.
2:33
SPEAKER_02: I wanted to talk to you about before this happened.
2:35
SPEAKER_02: Like you said you would never ever like consider even going on the runway.
2:40
SPEAKER_02: So, what was your life before all this kicked off?
2:43
SPEAKER_00: So, before all of this, I don't like the word normal, I really don't, but I'm probably gonna use it a few times because I know everyone's normal is actually different.
2:51
SPEAKER_00: But I lived a pretty normal life, so I went to a normal school.
2:56
SPEAKER_00: Um, none of my friends had disabilities.
2:58
SPEAKER_00: I didn't actually know anybody with a disability growing up.
3:01
SPEAKER_00: Um left school, got a job, but when I was working for somebody else, it was the first time I'd ever actually experienced discrimination.
3:13
SPEAKER_00: So I never really came across anything like that as a child growing up, but as an adult in my adult life, work life, I did.
3:21
SPEAKER_00: But do you know what?
3:21
SPEAKER_00: I'm glad I did because because of that I left, and then it was actually Angel, the CEO of Models of Diversity, that contacted me and it completely completely changed the direction of my life.
3:33
SPEAKER_00: I left work, I had a baby, so I was just mum mum mum for a little while, and then I dabbled in a bit of modelling, and here we are today.
3:41
SPEAKER_02: That's so exciting.
3:42
SPEAKER_02: You like you kind of got scouted, I guess, by Angel.
3:45
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
3:46
SPEAKER_02: How did she even find you?
3:48
SPEAKER_00: So Angel found me on social media, and she had been in my inbox for so long.
3:55
SPEAKER_00: She will tell you this.
3:56
SPEAKER_00: She was like, Come to a shoot, come to a shoot, do this, do this.
3:59
SPEAKER_00: But again, because it had never crossed my mind and I weren't confident to do it.
4:03
SPEAKER_00: I was like, I don't think that's for me.
4:05
SPEAKER_00: Like, why me?
4:06
SPEAKER_00: Like, I don't know.
4:07
SPEAKER_00: Um, and then one day I finally was like, No, I'll come along, I'll do it.
4:12
SPEAKER_00: I went to one of their workshops that I would highly advise to go to because they're just really cool.
4:18
SPEAKER_00: Um, I went to one of them, and by the time it was over, she was like, You're ready, you're gonna get signed.
4:24
SPEAKER_00: I just know you are.
4:26
SPEAKER_00: And then the following week I was signed with an agency, and in the same week I got sent to she sent me to a casting for London Fashion Week, and I went there, zero experience of runway, and I got casted.
4:43
SPEAKER_00: And I I was the only disabled person that had ever casted.
4:47
SPEAKER_00: I think I still am, don't hold me for that.
4:49
SPEAKER_00: Happened really quick.
4:51
SPEAKER_02: Have you ever seen Geek Girl on Netflix or read the books?
4:54
SPEAKER_02: I watched that and I was getting so giddy, and it literally sounds like your life.
4:58
SPEAKER_02: Like literally, you're not a geek.
5:00
SPEAKER_02: Well, you might be, I don't know.
5:01
SPEAKER_02: But like, we're all we're a little geeky over here.
5:04
SPEAKER_02: You know what I'm gonna do later now?
5:06
SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna watch that.
5:07
SPEAKER_02: Watch it, it's on Netflix.
5:09
SPEAKER_02: I'll be real.
5:09
SPEAKER_02: It's like one of those like kind of cringy but like super fun watch.
5:13
SPEAKER_02: I was wondering, just to bring up bring it back to before modeling and things like that, you mentioned you faced discrimination for the first time when you became an adult.
5:21
SPEAKER_02: I feel like I grew up very similarly, where you know I didn't I didn't experience it at all growing up, or if if anybody said anything, it was behind my back.
5:29
SPEAKER_02: Like I never really dealt with it to my face or anything.
5:32
SPEAKER_02: But it's interesting that you said that came about when you're an adult, because it's like, come on, guys, let's do better.
5:38
SPEAKER_02: We're adults, why are we singling each other out?
5:41
SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
5:43
SPEAKER_00: What happened?
5:43
SPEAKER_00: What actually went down?
5:45
SPEAKER_00: Like you, I never experienced anything like that growing up.
5:48
SPEAKER_00: So the people that I grew up around, they're good people, and I feel like I'm quite understanding, like I get it, because obviously, if I wasn't born with a limb difference, I might think a different way as well.
5:58
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, I don't get offended, but as an adult, I was for I think it was about five years, I used to dispatch transport ambulances, and then I just started to feel like office life wasn't for me.
6:13
SPEAKER_00: So I went out on the road in the ambulance as an assistant, not a driver.
6:18
SPEAKER_00: I sort of got the feel of it, and I was like, this is so nice, like I like to help people, yeah.
6:23
SPEAKER_00: So I was like, this is more for me, I think.
6:25
SPEAKER_00: So I approached my manager um and basically said I'd like to be put forward to become a driver.
6:34
SPEAKER_00: He was like, no, basically.
6:39
SPEAKER_00: Well, just point point blank period no.
6:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, don't sit quite like don't quite sit right with me.
6:45
SPEAKER_00: Anyway, ended up getting to a point where I had meetings with PHR.
6:49
SPEAKER_00: Uh speaking to them, but you know, I just felt patronized through the whole meeting because one of the questions they asked me, he was like, How do you get to work?
6:59
SPEAKER_00: I was like, I drive to work.
7:01
SPEAKER_00: I've been driving for years, none of my cars have ever needed um to be adapted.
7:06
SPEAKER_00: I know some people do, but everyone's different.
7:08
SPEAKER_00: I've never had that, and then I remember them being quite shocked, like, oh, you drive, but then it's like, why would I apply for a driving role without a driving license?
7:20
SPEAKER_00: And it was just so bizarre.
7:24
SPEAKER_00: Anyway, after that, I didn't want to work there no more.
7:26
SPEAKER_00: I literally left the doubt-handed my note, my um notes in.
7:30
SPEAKER_00: Luckily, I'm quite thick skinned, but experiences like that could really knock somebody's confidence.
7:38
SPEAKER_00: Obviously, I'm glad I walked away now, but it also taught me that other people's limitations of me or expectations of me is not actually my reality.
7:49
SPEAKER_00: Like, I don't have to take that on as my reality.
7:52
SPEAKER_00: Glad it happened because now it's like it wasn't for me anyway, and I could have been doing that when really I enjoy doing this so much more.
8:04
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
8:06
SPEAKER_02: No, I totally get it, and I feel like that's the most frustrating thing ever, because like obviously, yes, like it can take a its toll on your confidence, but also just even the frustration in the moment, like you're saying, you're not gonna put yourself forward for a job that you know that you couldn't do, right?
8:23
SPEAKER_02: They just take one look and they because they see the disability first, and they're like, Well, they can't stretch their mind around that, so they don't take the time to like listen to you and why you think that you well, but why you know that you can do it, you know.
8:35
SPEAKER_02: I find that shocking that it was just like no, like they made no effort to hear you out.
8:40
SPEAKER_02: It was just like no.
8:41
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it was just no.
8:43
SPEAKER_00: I mean, there was discussions about doing like a health and safety thing.
8:47
SPEAKER_00: Um, and I was all for it because yeah, okay, you know, we'll go through the process, and it just never happened.
8:54
SPEAKER_00: So I was like, yeah, bye.
8:57
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
8:57
SPEAKER_02: No, I had quite a similar experience at where is this water park?
9:01
SPEAKER_02: I'm trying to think if it's in Spain, you might have even been.
9:03
SPEAKER_02: Siam Park.
9:04
SPEAKER_02: Have you ever been to Sion Park?
9:05
SPEAKER_00: That's Tenerife, isn't it?
9:06
SPEAKER_02: It's Spain.
9:07
SPEAKER_02: Tenerife, that's it, yeah, yeah, yeah.
9:09
SPEAKER_02: I I get really anxious at water parks at theme parks.
9:15
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, because why?
9:17
SPEAKER_02: Because I feel like they're gonna take one look at me and think she can't hold on.
9:22
SPEAKER_02: Like if it's uh if it's a donut or something like that.
9:25
SPEAKER_02: By the way, I like I rode a bike without prosthetics.
9:29
SPEAKER_02: I I actually can grip, but obviously people who see this are like, you can't grip, what are you talking about?
9:34
SPEAKER_02: But I'm like, let me show you.
9:36
SPEAKER_02: And it started really good.
9:37
SPEAKER_02: So like we got up there and I was like in this ring, and they like they kind of looked me up and down, and I was like, Oh, here we go.
9:43
SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna have to walk away.
9:44
SPEAKER_02: Like, and it just feels shit to like have to walk away and not get to do what you want to do when you know that you can.
9:49
SPEAKER_02: The person was actually like came over, they were like, Are you gonna be okay?
9:52
SPEAKER_02: And I was like, Yes, I'm gonna be okay.
9:54
SPEAKER_02: And they were like, show me how you need to hold on.
9:56
SPEAKER_02: And I was like, fair enough, I'll show you how I hold on.
9:59
SPEAKER_02: So I like gripped this person's arm to prove it to them, and they let me go on.
10:03
SPEAKER_02: And I was like, I like this approach much better because I understand there's a concern for safety, but you've put it to me and you've been like, Show me you can do it, and then you've drawn the conclusion after that.
10:14
SPEAKER_02: I feel like that's so much better.
10:16
SPEAKER_02: But then we literally were like looking around for like 30 minutes trying to locate this slide because it was the biggest on the park.
10:22
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I found it, got all the way up there.
10:24
SPEAKER_02: It was like the last slide we were gonna go on, and they didn't take that procedure, they took one look at me and they were like, mm-hmm no.
10:31
SPEAKER_02: And I was like, Yeah, and it sucked because it's like you know what you can do, but there's but there's just no getting through.
10:39
SPEAKER_00: No, and I feel like you know, I feel like when people look at people with a physical disability, a lot of the time they assumed that they also have some sort of mental disability.
10:51
SPEAKER_00: I feel like that's the thing with some people, and it's like you wouldn't put yourself in a position where you didn't think you could do it.
11:01
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, like the only person that's gonna get hurt potentially is myself, and I wouldn't put myself in that position.
11:07
SPEAKER_02: So you know, like another story I heard was of a little boy who he was, I think he was going through the process of getting a hero arm or something like that, and he really wanted this hero arm because of this scenario where he was at school and all of his school went on basically a field trip.
11:24
SPEAKER_02: They went on a school trip to Thorpe Park.
11:26
SPEAKER_02: But you know what they did?
11:28
SPEAKER_02: They legit left this boy because they were like, oh, you're not gonna be able to go on any of the roller coasters.
11:33
SPEAKER_02: So I don't know if they thought they were doing God's work by not letting him witness the other people having fun, but he literally got left behind.
11:39
SPEAKER_02: That's baffling, but it it made me even angrier because literally, I I mean, we're both on social media, like occasionally you get like PR invites, and it's like the most exciting thing ever.
11:49
SPEAKER_02: A couple of months prior, I was invited to the opening night of Thought Park.
11:54
SPEAKER_02: This kid's missing one hand, I'm missing two, and I got to go to the opening night of that park and go on the their like freaking crazy freaking roller coaster.
12:05
SPEAKER_02: And I'm like, if they would have just dialed in with the park and asked the park even, he could have came along.
12:12
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's oh my heart breaks for him then because that is it's also unfair because you know, people with limb differences, it is not their fault, so it's not like oh you can't have finding you have to miss out.
12:26
SPEAKER_00: Like, no, they don't.
12:27
SPEAKER_00: And I'm pretty sure his parents wouldn't have sent him into school that day if they knew that he was gonna be unsafe.
12:33
SPEAKER_02: Oh, it made me so much, it literally made me want to like take this kid and like take him to Fort Park.
12:38
SPEAKER_02: Because I was like, That is of course you can.
12:54
SPEAKER_02: Oh, anyway, ran over.
12:56
SPEAKER_02: But let me get back to the fun stuff, which is you being a supermodel.
13:01
SPEAKER_02: We love to see it.
13:02
SPEAKER_02: I want to hear about your first ever runway.
13:06
SPEAKER_02: What was going through your head?
13:08
SPEAKER_00: My first ever runway.
13:10
SPEAKER_00: So, my first ever runway was at London Fashion Week.
13:14
SPEAKER_00: I got there.
13:14
SPEAKER_00: I remember thinking, what am I doing?
13:18
SPEAKER_00: Like, what am I actually doing?
13:21
SPEAKER_00: Because obviously, a week ago, this would have never crossed my mind.
13:26
SPEAKER_00: Um, and I got there and my anxiety was at 10.
13:31
SPEAKER_00: Like, I was like, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, because it's such a long day.
13:36
SPEAKER_00: Um, there's a lot of waiting around, isn't there?
13:39
SPEAKER_00: And then at the end, it's like chaos, it's like go, go, go.
13:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
13:43
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I love that now, but at the time I didn't know what to expect.
13:46
SPEAKER_00: I'd never done anything like that before.
13:48
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, I mean, hair and makeup, outfit on.
13:53
SPEAKER_00: Um, the designer was absolutely lovely.
13:57
SPEAKER_00: And I remember we had a test run, but it was literally about 10 minutes before the show started.
14:03
SPEAKER_00: Um, and I just done it, and I I I just walked, like there was no model.
14:09
SPEAKER_00: Nobody teaches you how to model walkers, like you just have to like, I just walked.
14:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I was just like, I'm just gonna wing this.
14:16
SPEAKER_00: I did.
14:17
SPEAKER_00: Do you know what though?
14:18
SPEAKER_00: I'm so weird because I don't normally get nervous about anything until the second I'm about to do it, and then I think no, no, no, no.
14:27
SPEAKER_00: But by that point, it's too late.
14:29
SPEAKER_00: I've committed to it, I'm doing it.
14:30
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and what was the brand?
14:32
SPEAKER_00: Um, the first brand I walked for, they were called Juna, and I just had like a really loud coat on.
14:40
SPEAKER_00: And do you know what I loved about them as well?
14:42
SPEAKER_00: So it was like bright pink and yellow, it was super cool.
14:46
SPEAKER_00: It had long sleeves, and they pushed my sleeve up so people could see my prosthetic.
14:51
SPEAKER_00: And I thought, yeah, good for you.
14:54
SPEAKER_00: Like they're being inclusive.
14:57
SPEAKER_00: Obviously, I know it catches people's eyes, so you know it's a win for everyone.
15:02
SPEAKER_00: Um, people are gonna look at what I'm wearing because they're gonna look straight at my arm because obviously it's not something you see every day, but yeah, growing up, I used to really hate people staring at me, but now I'm older.
15:14
SPEAKER_00: I'm so as you know, it's I'm so used to it, like it's just the thing.
15:19
SPEAKER_00: Um, but I don't get offended anymore.
15:21
SPEAKER_00: I actually quite like it.
15:22
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, yeah, like some people I'm going off topic here, there's nothing about the runway show.
15:28
SPEAKER_00: But do you experience things?
15:30
SPEAKER_00: Like certain people will like look and then look away, like pretend that they didn't see it.
15:35
SPEAKER_00: They're trying to make me feel comfortable themselves, but like I don't mind, and then some people have questions.
15:42
SPEAKER_00: Do you know what?
15:43
SPEAKER_00: I prefer being asked about it rather than like pretending that it's not there, like no, it's fine.
15:50
SPEAKER_00: Like, you cannot I would probably ask, like, that's cool, like, what's that?
15:55
SPEAKER_00: Um, but yeah, I think I prefer that rather than people being like Yeah, exactly.
16:02
SPEAKER_02: And because it's like customizable and you can have your hand like dress it up however you like and you can fawn it in a fashion show, like you're right, the the eyes naturally gravitate towards us when we're when we're wearing them, or anything different in general, like it does.
16:18
SPEAKER_02: Like you it's very easy to feel like at a victim of that where you're like, oh my god, I don't want to be the center of attention.
16:24
SPEAKER_02: But I feel like when you step onto the stage, that's you making that choice to lean into what happens so organically.
16:33
SPEAKER_02: And I feel like there's so much power in that choice.
16:37
SPEAKER_00: There is so much power in that.
16:39
SPEAKER_02: I know it's a feeling probably everybody feels when they get to the end of the runway, but to to be on a stage as somebody who feels like they're on a stage all the time because of all the eyes on them, it's like so I don't I don't even know the right word for it.
16:53
SPEAKER_02: It's just empowering as hell.
16:54
SPEAKER_00: Empowering, yeah.
16:55
SPEAKER_00: I think that is the perfect word for it.
16:57
SPEAKER_00: It is it is really empowering.
16:59
SPEAKER_00: But when I was a child, I never used to wear prosthetic at all.
17:02
SPEAKER_00: Um, it actually used to repulse me.
17:05
SPEAKER_00: I don't know what that was about, right?
17:09
SPEAKER_02: Well, can can we deep dive that or you really have no idea?
17:13
SPEAKER_00: Honestly, like I don't know.
17:14
SPEAKER_00: I think well, gr when obviously when I was really young, I didn't really know that I was that different because my friends and family have just been great, they've never treated me any differently.
17:26
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, like I've never they've never been like Hayley, like, oh let me help you.
17:31
SPEAKER_00: They've just let me cracked on, and I love that because you know I don't know no different, but because I've got more weight on one side of my body than the other, I actually have a slight bit of scoliosis now.
17:43
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so then I started to wear my prosthetic to avoid back pain.
17:48
SPEAKER_00: Um, and then obviously my clothes would fit me better with the prosthetic on.
17:52
SPEAKER_00: So, like my teenage years, I went from not wearing it at all to literally not taking it off, and then I think I got so used to wearing it that I was like, I just wanted to be like everyone else, and it won't, I don't think it was a confidence thing, but it wasn't just that, it was like I didn't want people to treat me any differently or pity me.
18:18
SPEAKER_00: I hate being pitied, hate it.
18:21
SPEAKER_00: Um yeah, like I used to wear long sleeves, like even in the summer, I'd wear long sleeves, so I was very limited to what I would wear.
18:28
SPEAKER_00: Like I'd see an outfit, I'd be like, that's so nice, but I can't wear that.
18:32
SPEAKER_00: Um, obviously, I wear whatever I want now, and I'm super super proud to be wearing my hero arm, and then pick when people look like I love that, but I've never been one for attention.
18:44
SPEAKER_00: I'm not an attention seeker, I actually have my whole life I've just wanted to blend in.
18:49
SPEAKER_00: And now it's not that I do it for the attention, but it's like there's so much power in accepting who you are, like you just feel empowered, and it's like, yeah, I don't care.
19:01
SPEAKER_00: Why would you care?
19:02
SPEAKER_00: If you do care, that's not me problem.
19:05
SPEAKER_00: If you've got questions, I'm happy to ask.
19:07
SPEAKER_00: If you don't want to talk about it and pretend like it's not there, I'm fine with that as well.
19:11
SPEAKER_00: Like, yeah, yeah, I think a lot of growth comes from you know the emotions and the journey, but I think once you're there, like you're unstoppable, like it's empowering.
19:22
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, like like exactly.
19:24
SPEAKER_02: I love the way you phrase that, like accepting who you are, and like just sort of then showing up unapologetically, like, you know, I don't this is this is how I am, this is how I was born, this is how I grew up.
19:36
SPEAKER_02: Why is it even a thing?
19:38
SPEAKER_02: And I feel like your story is a really interesting one in the sense that, you know, the first discrimination you ever experienced was one like within an industry that is meant to like help people and you wanted to help people, whereas the modeling industry obviously has the like the sort of stereotype around it where it is quite like shallow or something like that, and they they don't want diversity on their runway and things like that.
20:00
SPEAKER_02: And I find that really interesting.
20:02
SPEAKER_02: How did you find like integrating with the other models and things backstage?
20:08
SPEAKER_02: Was it like a topic of conversation?
20:10
SPEAKER_02: Was it just like, oh, okay, girl, welcome.
20:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, literally, every before I've done it, obviously I heard things like, Oh, it's quite a bitchy environment.
20:20
SPEAKER_00: I've never been in that environment doing any sort of show.
20:25
SPEAKER_00: No one's sort of approached me and sort of spoke about it.
20:28
SPEAKER_00: They've all been very welcoming.
20:30
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's not really been it's not been a thing, and it's crazy because it's like, you know, I'm not actually tall enough to be a model, I've not got model face features, I've got tattoos, I've got limb difference.
20:44
SPEAKER_00: Like I go against everything of what a model should be.
20:49
SPEAKER_00: Like, I'm not slim enough to be a model, I'm quite curvy, and it's like I love that because it's like, yeah, I've done it, and I've not done it once, I've done it over and over.
20:57
SPEAKER_00: And like I that it's a that's a personal win for me, to be honest.
21:01
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, a million percent.
21:03
SPEAKER_02: Girl, I feel like you were one of the first people I saw on the runway, and I was like, what we can do that, let's go!
21:10
SPEAKER_00: And you've you've done so many shows.
21:13
SPEAKER_00: When I done my first couple of shows, I did get messages from people with um limb differences or any sort of disability, and they was like, You've really inspired me, and do you know that's the whole point.
21:28
SPEAKER_00: It's literally the whole point.
21:29
SPEAKER_00: That's so wholesome to me.
21:30
SPEAKER_00: Like, I love that.
21:31
SPEAKER_00: Like, yeah, go for it, do it.
21:33
SPEAKER_00: They'll be like, How do I do it?
21:35
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, Yes, just do it.
21:36
SPEAKER_00: You're like, Angel, I have a new client for you.
21:39
SPEAKER_00: Honestly, I I message her and I'm like, So take a look at this Instagram.
21:45
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I love it.
21:46
SPEAKER_00: I love putting people on because I know what it's done for me and my confidence journey.
21:52
SPEAKER_00: If I could do that for somebody else or point them in the right direction, I'm all here for it.
21:58
SPEAKER_02: But you have modeled for like some.
22:00
SPEAKER_02: So many in so many shows, so many different things.
22:02
SPEAKER_02: I saw that you uh walked in London Fashion Week, of course, for River Island.
22:08
SPEAKER_02: And did you do like Jimmy Chew Academy shows as well?
22:11
SPEAKER_02: What has been your favourite show and your like claims of any were like, Yes, I did that?
22:18
SPEAKER_00: I think my favourite shows was the fashion scout shows, but I think that is because I was their only disabled model, and it's kind of like I love the I love the um diverse fashion shows, honestly, all four of them, support them 100%, want to be involved, love it.
22:41
SPEAKER_00: But I think when I'm the only disabled model there, I feel like yeah, I'm breaking a barrier, like I can do it, everyone can do it, like it's not a thing.
22:53
SPEAKER_00: Like, like I said before, I'm not slim enough, tall enough, or anything enough to be here, but I am here and I'm doing it, and I've continued to do it.
23:04
SPEAKER_00: Like they've been my favourite because I think they've been more meaningful because I never thought that I'd work in walking a diverse show, let alone you know, being casted by somebody that's never thought to do that before, and I love that now they do accept disabled people to go and cast for their show.
23:26
SPEAKER_00: Um, but yeah, the River Island shows have been super fun.
23:29
SPEAKER_00: I've done two of those, and yeah, the Jimmy Choo Academy.
23:33
SPEAKER_00: Walking in front of Jimmy Choo himself was crazy to me because that like again, it was one of those things, it's like, what is happening?
23:43
SPEAKER_00: Like, how is this escalated?
23:45
SPEAKER_00: And I'm here doing that.
23:48
SPEAKER_00: He's super nice as well.
23:49
SPEAKER_02: Did you chat?
23:51
SPEAKER_00: Well, only for a brief moment, but because he had like loads of security around him, obviously.
23:56
SPEAKER_00: Oh god, but yeah, that was that was super cool.
24:00
SPEAKER_00: I walked for a designer called Casey, she was lovely, her designs are super cool, and she was focusing on sort of her clothes being adapted, so therefore absolutely everyone loved that as well.
24:16
SPEAKER_00: I've never had um clothes that have been adapted or needed that personally myself, but I do love, love, love, love that that's a thing now.
24:25
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I have me too.
24:27
SPEAKER_02: I've never because I feel like it also just didn't exist for a while, like you just had to figure it out.
24:33
SPEAKER_02: I do know Tommy does a lot of adaptive fashion, which is freaking epic.
24:38
SPEAKER_02: Hang on, let's get you in a Tommy show.
24:41
SPEAKER_00: Um yeah, I would I would love that.
24:42
SPEAKER_00: Do you know what?
24:43
SPEAKER_00: I think me and Angel have had a discussion about that before.
24:45
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, it's definitely it's definitely on my to-do list.
24:49
SPEAKER_00: My bucket list.
24:50
SPEAKER_02: No, I love that.
24:51
SPEAKER_02: I love that you said to-do list and not bucket list.
24:53
SPEAKER_02: I mean, like, that's cooler because you're like, yeah.
24:55
SPEAKER_02: Oh, let's be humble, but yeah, we say we're gonna do it, we're gonna do it.
24:59
SPEAKER_02: It's happening.
25:00
SPEAKER_02: Hell yeah.
25:01
SPEAKER_02: That's so cool.
25:02
SPEAKER_02: You're you're so super inspiring in general, as you know, somebody who's breaking the barriers on the runways and things like that.
25:09
SPEAKER_02: And you're also a mum, right?
25:11
SPEAKER_02: Tell me about your little your little kid.
25:13
SPEAKER_02: He's a little boy, right?
25:15
SPEAKER_00: I'm literally a mum before I'm anything else.
25:18
SPEAKER_00: Um, and I think he is my main motivation to like do these sorts of things as well.
25:26
SPEAKER_00: Because I want him to know that just because one door closes, it doesn't mean all doors are closed.
25:31
SPEAKER_00: Like you're just knocking on the wrong door.
25:33
SPEAKER_00: And I'd like I like him to know that it's okay to show up exactly who you are.
25:39
SPEAKER_00: I love the fact that because obviously I wear a prosthetic, he does not judge no one, whether they're wheelchair users or whatever, like he doesn't bat an eyelid, and love that for him.
25:51
SPEAKER_00: On one of the River Island shows, I was on the front cover of their brochures.
25:56
SPEAKER_00: Um, so I took one home with me, and the next day I found it in his school bag.
26:02
SPEAKER_00: I was like, why is this in your school bag?
26:04
SPEAKER_00: He was like, I wanted to show my friends.
26:07
SPEAKER_02: Oh no, that is so sweet.
26:10
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, honestly, like he roots for me.
26:13
SPEAKER_00: Like I'll I'll be talking about something, I'll be like, I don't know if I'm gonna do it.
26:17
SPEAKER_00: And he's like, Oh, you have to try, you have to always try.
26:20
SPEAKER_00: And yeah, that's the time for me.
26:23
SPEAKER_02: And I just He's just your biggest hype man.
26:27
SPEAKER_02: That's so sweet.
26:30
SPEAKER_02: That's so sweet, and it I think it also like it's obviously really helped him growing up around you, you know, and and seeing your difference and how you turned that like into strength and into purpose and power as you're walking down these runways.
26:46
SPEAKER_02: I think that's like it's the same way like representation is so deep and so useful because not every kid can have like a supermodel bionic mother, right?
26:56
SPEAKER_02: Teaching them that lesson.
26:57
SPEAKER_02: So it's so cool.
26:59
SPEAKER_00: He's really cool, and yeah, I'm a mum before I'm any anything else.
27:03
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I feel like that that is so clear.
27:05
SPEAKER_02: So I wanted to make sure I spoke to you about that because, like, I mean, I I'm I'm not a mum myself, I cannot relate.
27:12
SPEAKER_02: But I imagine that just changes everything.
27:15
SPEAKER_02: Girl, I'm 20 years old, I have a while to wait.
27:18
SPEAKER_00: You've got a while, but I had my son at 28, so eight years.
27:24
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
27:25
SPEAKER_00: And I think certain people thought that like motherhood might have been a struggle for me.
27:29
SPEAKER_00: It's not been a struggle for me at all.
27:31
SPEAKER_00: Like, my son is so used to it, he's gone from like I remember when he first started his school and he was like to his friends, my mum's got a bionic arm, look at her arm, look at her arm, and he'll be like, Mum, move it, move it.
27:42
SPEAKER_00: It got to a point where he was like, Mum, take it off.
27:44
SPEAKER_00: And I was like, No.
27:46
SPEAKER_00: Like these children will be scarred, not everyone's used to all of this.
27:52
SPEAKER_02: It's adaptation, it's freaking magical human experience the way we just adapt to our situation, I think.
27:59
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think you get so used to adapting that it's it literally is your normal.
28:03
SPEAKER_00: Like, you know, some people might look and think, like, oh, are they gonna struggle?
28:07
SPEAKER_00: And it's like it probably wouldn't have even crossed our mind whether we're gonna struggle or not, because if something needs to be done or we want to do something, it's more than a while.
28:16
SPEAKER_00: It's not a problem.
28:29
SPEAKER_02: I feel like fashion and inclusivity is having a real moment right now.
28:35
SPEAKER_02: You know, we just had the Met Goler where Ariana Rose Phillip was there and she was the first wheelchair user ever to be at the Met.
28:42
SPEAKER_02: I mean, a bit baffling that it hadn't happened yet, but like we love to see it.
28:46
SPEAKER_02: And I feel like there is that conversation around, like, we c there's kind of like ebbs and flows of when big brands and like big shows want to include, you know, more diverse people in their shows.
28:58
SPEAKER_02: I was wondering if you have experienced that as a model and if you think, yeah, that we it that there was a kind of like drop there and we're like sorting ourselves out again now.
29:09
SPEAKER_02: Like, do you think that's been a thing?
29:11
SPEAKER_02: Are you optimistic that we're going the right way?
29:14
SPEAKER_00: No, I do think it's de it's definitely a thing.
29:16
SPEAKER_00: Um, I think it needs to be more consistent.
29:19
SPEAKER_00: I think it's the consistency that falls off.
29:23
SPEAKER_00: Um do you know who does really well with diversity is Primark?
29:27
SPEAKER_00: They do really well with it, I think.
29:30
SPEAKER_00: Um but yeah, like yeah, it comes and goes.
29:33
SPEAKER_00: I just yeah, certain brands are all for it.
29:37
SPEAKER_00: I think certain brands do it to say that they've done it.
29:41
SPEAKER_00: Um, but not a lot of brands are very consistent with the diversity and the inclusion, that's for sure.
29:48
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
29:49
SPEAKER_02: And how were you feeling?
29:51
SPEAKER_02: I mean, it is for you as Matt Garla on the to-do list as well.
29:55
SPEAKER_02: How was it for you to see the first person we've ever displayed you there?
29:59
SPEAKER_00: Honestly, I love it.
30:00
SPEAKER_00: Growing up, I didn't I didn't see any of this, it wasn't a thing.
30:04
SPEAKER_00: I don't know how I would feel if I did see it growing up.
30:08
SPEAKER_00: I'd like to think that I would be like, yeah, that's give me confidence, but can't say that because I don't know.
30:14
SPEAKER_00: But I love to see it now.
30:16
SPEAKER_00: Love the fact that she's broke that barrier, go girl.
30:20
SPEAKER_00: Um, yeah, and I would love to jump on that 100%.
30:24
SPEAKER_02: We just need a whole crew of us in in in the Met.
30:29
SPEAKER_02: Like that would be so, so freaking cool.
30:31
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, because like why should people with a disability not experience that either?
30:36
SPEAKER_00: You know, it's like the little boy with Fault Park.
30:39
SPEAKER_00: Why shouldn't he experience it?
30:40
SPEAKER_00: Like you on the slide, why shouldn't you experience it?
30:43
SPEAKER_02: Um so many excuses, bro, because I I bet I bet it would have been like, well, it's it's the iconic Met steps.
30:49
SPEAKER_02: How do we make that accessible?
30:50
SPEAKER_02: Lo and bold, you make a ramp.
30:52
SPEAKER_02: Like it's not revolutionary, you know.
30:55
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, there's an answer for absolutely everything.
30:58
SPEAKER_00: I think this might offend some people.
31:00
SPEAKER_00: I think some people are so small-minded that they can't think of solutions.
31:07
SPEAKER_00: But I think growing up with a disability or becoming disabled, you naturally have it in you to be a I'll figure it out person.
31:16
SPEAKER_00: Um, and I think just some people aren't like that.
31:19
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, it's like that can't be done, that can't be done.
31:21
SPEAKER_00: It's like it can be done, you just don't want to do it, let's be honest.
31:25
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, no, legit, two or tea.
31:28
SPEAKER_02: That's exactly it.
31:29
SPEAKER_02: Well, let's talk about how you know you we wear this awesome barn a can now.
31:34
SPEAKER_02: Your little boy is like such a massive fan.
31:37
SPEAKER_02: Is it true that when he saw you, he like called it, like called you a transformer?
31:41
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I took him a couple of times up with me to open bionics, and I remember picking it up the first time and I put it on, and he was like, he was like, You're a transformer.
31:52
SPEAKER_00: They give him one of them things, and he just used to rest it on his arm.
31:57
SPEAKER_00: Obviously, he's got all his lens.
32:00
SPEAKER_00: I've got one too.
32:00
SPEAKER_00: He's like, Yeah, great.
32:02
SPEAKER_02: My mum's a transformer.
32:04
SPEAKER_02: I thought it was really cute here and your son call you a transformer because that's the name I've just given the fan base of this podcast.
32:11
SPEAKER_02: Because I think the whole thing is like transforming the in the narrative, breaking these stigmas, pushing these boundaries in technology, but also in like disability is like obviously a massive part of my life and everything.
32:22
SPEAKER_02: So I just thought that was a perfect name.
32:24
SPEAKER_02: So your son is just hit the nail on the head with that one.
32:28
SPEAKER_00: Oh, he'll be so pleased if I tell him that.
32:31
SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna wrap it up now.
32:33
SPEAKER_02: I've been yapping to you for a little while.
32:36
SPEAKER_02: So I just want to know what you would say to a kid with a ling difference struggling with their confidence right now.
32:43
SPEAKER_00: I would tell them other people's limitations are not your reality.
32:49
SPEAKER_00: I think that's very important because they may hopefully not, they may go through life again, experience what you experience, you know, that young boy experience what I've experienced, but that's not your reality.
33:03
SPEAKER_00: That is literally just how they view it.
33:06
SPEAKER_00: Easier said than done.
33:07
SPEAKER_00: I would say find your people.
33:11
SPEAKER_00: Um, like when I met you, when I met Ashley, you know, people that celebrate each other and encourage each other to do really cool things.
33:21
SPEAKER_00: Because when I was younger and I didn't know anyone disabled, now I do.
33:25
SPEAKER_00: I'll be so honest, they are doing the most positive things.
33:29
SPEAKER_00: Right.
33:30
SPEAKER_00: Honestly, it's so inspiring.
33:32
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, yes, yes, love to see it.
33:34
SPEAKER_00: Find your people that don't judge, that encourage you, celebrate you, support you in anything that you want to do.
33:41
SPEAKER_00: Um, I also think be brave enough to put yourself in situations where either you could be rejected or you know, things things might not go as smoothly because when they do, it does give you that, it gives you confidence inside.
34:01
SPEAKER_00: I think when you get your confidence from somebody else, it can be easily took away.
34:05
SPEAKER_00: But when you get it from doing being brave enough to put yourself in situations and do things, it's not easy for somebody else to take that away from you.
34:15
SPEAKER_00: I did make a confidence workbook online um because I have been there.
34:20
SPEAKER_00: I've been the person and the or the child that wasn't too confident, but yeah, I would say literally do whatever you want to do, be brave enough to do it, and don't let other people's opinions or whatever be your reality.
34:39
SPEAKER_02: Amen.
34:40
SPEAKER_02: Hell yeah.
34:41
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think that's beautiful advice.
34:43
SPEAKER_02: And I think I like growing up very similarly to you, where I didn't see anybody, I always thought I don't I don't even need to meet anybody like me.
34:51
SPEAKER_02: Like I I'm blending in, aren't I?
34:54
SPEAKER_02: Like type vibe.
34:55
SPEAKER_02: But then when you actually like find your tribe of people who just get it, and then you realize they're so talented and incredible, and they're like doing all these amazing things, it's like, why wouldn't I want to hang out with these people?
35:07
SPEAKER_00: And it's not like, oh, I'm amazed that you're doing it because you're doing it with a disability.
35:11
SPEAKER_00: It's just like you've got such a positive mindset, you're incredibly brave, self-accepting, happy.
35:18
SPEAKER_00: Like, I love to see it, and I love that.
35:21
SPEAKER_00: And yeah, it does as much as I get messages like, oh, you're inspiring, and that's so wholesome.
35:26
SPEAKER_00: I have also been inspired by these people that I've met along the way, so they also helped me in my journey.
35:33
SPEAKER_00: Like, yeah, I remember seeing you, and I was like, Oh my god.
35:37
SPEAKER_00: And do you know what?
35:38
SPEAKER_00: So many people have been like, when I'm out and I've got my robot arm on, my robot arm, my hero.
35:43
SPEAKER_00: Um, but like when I'm outside, and then some people do come up to me and they're like, Oh my god, I've seen that on this morning.
35:50
SPEAKER_00: A girl had it on, and I'm like, really?
35:52
SPEAKER_00: And they're like, Yeah, I'm like, Yeah, she's my friend.
35:55
SPEAKER_00: Like, yeah, I'm like, Yeah, that's where it's from.
35:58
SPEAKER_00: Like, it has so changed my life.
36:01
SPEAKER_02: Without being cringy or dramatic, it has it's it's epic and it suits you so well.
36:06
SPEAKER_02: Can I just say?
36:08
SPEAKER_02: Thanks.
36:09
SPEAKER_02: It looks so good, and then one last question.
36:13
SPEAKER_00: Shoot.
36:14
SPEAKER_02: I know you've you've got your to-do list, the megola is on there, but what's next for you?
36:20
SPEAKER_02: More shows, more seasons, what's the vibe?
36:24
SPEAKER_00: Well, London Fashion Week is coming up in September as well.
36:28
SPEAKER_00: So I want to be a part of that, obviously.
36:31
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
36:32
SPEAKER_00: Um, yeah, I don't really know.
36:36
SPEAKER_00: I do have a couple of things that I can't announce yet.
36:40
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, pretty good game.
36:43
SPEAKER_02: Gotta stay tuned.
36:45
SPEAKER_02: Where can we find you if we want to follow you, see you on social media?
36:48
SPEAKER_02: What is your handle?
36:49
SPEAKER_00: I'm really rubbish on social media, I'll be honest.
36:53
SPEAKER_00: But my Instagram is Hayley.odwire underscore I think.
36:58
SPEAKER_02: Thank you so much, Hayley.
36:59
SPEAKER_02: It's been so so so nice chatting to you.
37:02
SPEAKER_02: I cannot wait to see you in everything you're gonna do, all your future projects.
37:06
SPEAKER_02: You are an icon.
37:08
SPEAKER_02: You're a diva.
37:09
SPEAKER_02: Thank you so much.
37:10
SPEAKER_00: And the best.
37:11
SPEAKER_00: Speak soon.
37:13
SPEAKER_02: Oh my god, that was so fun.
37:15
SPEAKER_02: She is just amazing.
37:16
SPEAKER_02: Again, so many parallels in the way that we grew up, I feel.
37:19
SPEAKER_02: But just to see her killing out on the runways, being an incredible mum, I just got to meet her son at the end there, off camera.
37:26
SPEAKER_02: She's just awesome, and it is fashion week, so you know, we gotta represent during fashion week.
37:31
SPEAKER_02: I can't wait to see her on the future, anyways, because she's good as well.
37:36
SPEAKER_02: She is good.
37:36
SPEAKER_02: Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Two Talks Tech.
37:39
SPEAKER_02: I really hope you did enjoy it.
37:40
SPEAKER_02: If you did, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe, share, let me know who else we gotta get on the podcast, and I will see you all next time.
37:47
SPEAKER_02: Bye.