Kanya Sesser
Kanya Sesser | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 1992 (age 32) |
| Occupation(s) | Para-athlete model |
Kanya Sesser (born September 1992[1]) is an American para-athlete and model.[2][1][3][4][5][6][7] She is known for having had a lifelong congenital absence of both legs. She was born in Thailand, was raised in Portland, Oregon, and currently lives in California.
Biography
[edit]Early life and education
[edit]Sesser was born in 1992 with a congenital absence of both legs. As an infant, she was abandoned outside a Buddhist temple in Pak Chong, Thailand.[1][2] She was found by a woman passing by on 13 September 1992, who picked up the baby Sesser, washed the debris off, and called the city police to take the baby to the hospital.[1] There, Sesser spent the next few years under the care of hospital staff, especially a nurse whom she called Mae (mother) Chan, as the police unsuccessfully searched for her birth family.[1]
In May 1998, Sesser was adopted by an American family and came to the Pacific Northwest,[1] where her adoptive parents raised her in Portland, Oregon.[4] She found it hard to integrate and could not speak English until the age of nine. She also taught herself to walk on her hands.[1] Sesser also had several surgeries on her hands due to having had webbed fingers on one hand and an extra finger on the other.[1] In her childhood, Sesser tried adaptive sports, such as wheelchair basketball, racing, tennis, and rugby.[1]
At the age of 15, Sesser began modeling for sports brands such as Billabong.[2] She also was never bullied at school, was a cheerleader until freshman year of high school, and almost became voted prom queen.[2]
Career
[edit]As an adult, Sesser lives in California.[2] She planned to compete at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.[1] She also played Rosey Valera, a professional surfer, in Hawaii Five-0, as well as playing a stunt zombie in The Walking Dead.[2][4] She participates in sports such as skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, skiing, and basketball.[1][2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Buchanan, Rose Troup (October 6, 2015). "Meet the legless model challenging preconceptions in the industry". The Independent. Archived from the original on October 4, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Para athlete, Hollywood actress, runway model Kanya Sesser is an unstoppable force". International Paralympic Committee. January 11, 2023. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- ^ "I'm Dying to Tell You: "No Legs, No Limits" - Kanya Sesser on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts.
- ^ a b c Connell, Charlie (December 31, 2021). "Kanya Sesser". InkedMag. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021.
- ^ "Legless Skateboarder Kanya Sesser Is Also A Lingerie Model & In Training To Become A Paralympian". Voomed. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023.
- ^ "No Legs, No Limits: Extreme Athlete Kanya Sesser is Unstoppable". DOPE Magazine. October 2, 2017. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020.
- ^ "Life and Work with Kanya Sesser". VoyageLA. June 10, 2019. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2023.