‘Your obstacle is your opportunity’: Montreal model and athlete creating a more body-inclusive world
Posted April 25, 2024 5:15 pm.
Last Updated April 26, 2024 11:04 am.
Allison Lang is showing her followers that “your obstacle is your opportunity.”
The Canadian model and athlete, born missing the lower half of her left leg, is on a mission to create a more accessible and body-inclusive world — and today, she shares her story with CityNews as April is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month.
“It doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks,” said Lang. “What matters is what you think of yourself.”
From content creation to being a world traveler, model, and Canadian national athlete — Lang shares her journey with her over 16, 000 Instagram followers.
“My joke is that I have more legs than everybody,” she said, laughing. “Whenever they say ‘oh I’m so sorry you have one leg’.”
Born and raised in Alberta –- Lang now lives in Montreal and isn’t just advocating in the month of April.
She began by sharing her travel adventures on social media –- at first, using it as a scrapbook for her own memories.
“I thought I would make a joke out of it and I started using the hashtag #HopAroundTheWorldWithMe because I have one leg,” she said. “And funny enough, I started getting messages from mothers with children with disabilities thanking me for showing them that their children will grow up to be independent and live fulfilling lives.”
“That’s one thing I didn’t see for myself when I was younger,” she explained. “I just didn’t know what I was capable of and it’s more than what society thinks we can do.”
Lang says she hid her prosthetic leg growing up –– from wearing long pants in 30-degree weather to removing herself from sports — after experiencing bullying.
Today, she shares her story of self-love hoping to help others who may be on a similar journey.
From collaborating and modeling for brands like Reitmans, Joe Fresh, Via Rail and more — Lang shared her advice for being confident in front of a camera:
“One thing that I did myself was I practiced in front of the mirror,” she said. “And instead of trying to hide my biggest insecurity or any of my insecurities, I just tried to show it a little bit more and embrace it.”
What she’s also embraced: her love for sports.
“There are no words to describe what it’s like to qualify for the Paralympic Games,” she said.
Canada’s Sitting Volleyball Team beat Germany when competing in the World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Cup in Egypt back in Nov.
They’re the highest ranked team to qualify for the 2024 Paralympic Games taking place in Paris at the end of Aug.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Lang. “I used to think that I couldn’t do things because of my disability, and now I am doing things because of my disability.”
