We caught up with Hayley O’Dwyer fresh off her River Island and Jimmy Choo Academy runway show at London Fashion Week to talk all things modeling and prosthetic arms. 

Evie: Hayley, you’ve been wearing the Hero Arm for about two years, and you started modeling around the same time. Do the two experiences have anything in common?

Hayley: Absolutely! Nine years ago, Angel from Models of Diversity encouraged me to try modeling, but I didn’t have the confidence. I always preferred being behind the camera. I finally worked up the courage to join one of their workshops, and I loved it—it was so relaxed and fun! Two weeks later, I received my Hero Arm, which gave me such a confidence boost, and soon after, I was signed to walk at London Fashion Week. It was a whirlwind.

Evie: What was it like walking your first runway?

Hayley: It was surreal. Before that, I never had the confidence to wear short sleeves outside, let alone walk down a runway. I didn’t realize how much I needed the Hero Arm until I wanted to show it off. It made me proud of my limb difference.

Evie: You walked at London Fashion Week again this year, right?

Hayley: Yes, I walked in two shows, including the Jimmy Choo Academy show for one of his entrepreneur designers. It was so much fun!

Evie: That sounds so glamorous! What was your career before modeling?

Hayley: Definitely not as glamorous! I used to dispatch ambulances, and after a decade of doing that, I wanted to become a fully qualified ambulance driver. Unfortunately, I was told I couldn’t because of my limb difference.

Evie: But you have a full driver’s license?

Hayley: Yes, exactly, and I was confident I’d pass the training. It was the first time I felt discriminated against, so I welcomed a change from that environment.

Evie: What was it like growing up with a limb difference?

Hayley: It wasn’t easy for my mum. I was a twin, but my brother passed away after we were born. I had a limb difference, but growing up, I never felt different. My mum would show me how she would do something and leave me to figure things out, and I did.

Evie: Did you wear prosthetic arms as a child or an adult?

Hayley: I had a small prosthetic arm as a kid but didn’t use it. Before the Hero Arm, I had a rubber skin-tone prosthetic, which I hated. It felt like I was trying to hide my limb difference, which wasn’t true at all. I wore it mainly to relieve back pain from the imbalance.

Evie: Is that why you wanted the Hero Arm?

Hayley: Partly, yes. In my 30s, my limb-different arm muscles were underdeveloped, because I didn’t wear prosthetic arms or do any sort of exercises so I was experiencing back pain due to the imbalance. The more I wear the Hero Arm, the more I feel relief in my shoulder. 

Evie: What did your son think when you first got the Hero Arm?

Hayley: At first, he was intrigued and told his friends I was a Transformer because of my “robot hand.” Now, he doesn’t really notice it, but he sometimes puts it on and pretends to have a robot arm himself.

Evie: How did the Hero Arm feel in those first two weeks after being fitted?

Hayley: It was secure, but the weight felt heavy on my arm since I didn’t have much muscle.

Evie: Do you still feel that way now, two years later?

Hayley: No no, my arm has built muscle, and the weight is no longer noticeable. I wear it all day.

Evie: Is it comfortable to wear all day?

Hayley: By evening, I’m ready to take it off, but that’s the same as wanting to kick off my shoes or take off my bra after a long day.

Evie: Has the fit changed over the years?

Hayley: I tend to lose and gain weight often, but I still wear the original socket in the Hero Arm, and it fits just as well as it did on day one.

Evie: Let’s talk function. How does the Hero Arm play into your life now, after two years?

Hayley: I love wearing it on the runway for aesthetic reasons, but in daily life, it’s the little things. I can pick up a water bottle while holding my bag, use a hair dryer while brushing my hair, or hold my son’s hand and carry my shopping at the same time.

The Hero Arm wasn’t designed for confidence, but it has given me so much. Before, I’d settle for what life gave me. Now, I strive for more and aim higher.

Evie: Confidence seems to come naturally to models, but what advice would you give children with limb differences struggling with self-esteem?

Hayley: No one is you, and that’s your power. It took me a long time to build my confidence, but once you do, you protect it fiercely and run with it.

Evie: What’s next for you? Are you enjoying modeling?

Hayley: I love it—it feels so wholesome. Growing up, I never saw anyone with a limb difference on TV or in magazines, so being able to showcase myself and my personality is amazing. I’m so grateful to Models of Diversity for fighting for fairer representation in fashion.

I want a Hero Arm

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