If you are fortunate enough to be selected for Coco Rocha’s Model Camp in New York as I was earlier this year, you’ll learn the secret of the 100 list. Obviously I can’t share that secret with you all, but I can confirm, categorically, that the 100 list absolutely does work!
Okay, I’ll give you a tiny insight into part of it… Coco Rocha instructed all of us models to reach out to our local communities as a way of building links in the modelling world. As an A star student I did exactly that and contacted The Birmingham Fashion Council. They said I’d be perfect for fashion week and our connection was made. Coco was right.
Birmingham Fashion Week 2024 is from 25th -27th October, so the first campaign involved creating a video to advertise the event. We filmed in Birmingham City Centre, here’s some BTS footage that gives a flavour of the day:
Again with all successful events it’s all about promo promo promo. So this weekend we met some of the designers who’ll be showcasing their designs on the runway and modelled their clothes for the campaign.
The day was shot by the incredible photographer Beth Pulley. Here’s some highlights:
And thank you to Coco for introducing me to the magical 100 list!
The World Cup Journey Continues
The World’s First Women’s Amputee Football World Cup is less than 4 months away and our training schedule is intensifying. Not only do we have our camps in Crewe…
…but we performed for the very first time in front of a crowd at the Champions League Final Fan Festival in London.
The day was truly magical, ending with Real Madrid beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
We’ve also filmed our fundraiser that should be launched sometime in the coming weeks with the aim of raising the funds we need to get us to Colombia to compete against the other nations in November.
No one knows how well we’ll perform… but I do know I’m giving it everything I’ve got.
Elle Magazine – May 2024 – Print Edition
Excitement levels are huge! I have my first Editorial Feature Interview in Elle Bulgaria… and my name even made it onto the front cover!
The title translates as: “The Breathtaking History of Annabel Kiki.” Not bad for a 15-year-old!
I’m sure, like me, you can’t nip down to your local Bulgarian corner shop and read the Bulgarian interview… I am pretty big in Bulgaria though – I think it was because I did so much for their ski tourism last year 😉
So here’s the translation:
Hi Annabel! Where did you grow up, what is your family like?
Hello! I grew up in Staffordshire, right next to Cannock Chase. It’s the prettiest area of natural beauty, full of walking trails, mountain bike courses and treetop adventures. My family are really sporty so it suits us perfectly, we’re forever outside finding fun.
What kind of childhood did you have? What did you dream of becoming as a child?
It sounds really clichéd but I did have the perfect childhood. My brother is exactly one year older than me, so we’ve never really known life without each other. Our friendship circles have formed one big group and we go out together all the time. My family love to travel and by the time I was 13 I’d already visited twenty different countries. I felt blessed. I was happy. I felt content and carefree, as any child should feel. I had dreams of becoming a world-class athlete, or model, or just doing well in school and experiencing life to the max.
Two years ago, they diagnosed you with a bone tumor – osteosarcoma. Scientists say it occurs when a “mistake” occurs in one of the cells responsible for making new bone tissue, but they still don’t know what causes this “mistake.” Please tell us how your leg came to be amputated.
Well, what a shock that was! I just had a sore knee. I thought it was a sports injury, but it wasn’t getting better. I started to limp, so my mum took me for an x-ray. I remember laughing and joking in the hospital waiting room, wondering if I might need a cast or crutches. The idea I’d need a year of chemotherapy, lose my hair, almost die from sepsis, and then get my leg chopped off, was so far outside any reality that I still struggle to comprehend exactly what happened! Why it happened, we’ll also never know. They do think it affects tall children more, whose bones are growing too quickly, but only 30 children a year in the UK are diagnosed with an osteosarcoma, so I guess it was just the challenge that life decided to set for me.
You were still a child… What and who helped you overcome this shock and continue playing sports actively?
My mum Sal never left my side. Her and I have always been a team, and we knew we had to face this head on. In life you can’t change what happens to you, but you can change how you respond to what happens to you, it’s essentially the only real control you have in your life… how you react. As a child I’d reacted to my idyllic upbringing with gratitude and now I knew I had to react to this horror with humility. I’ve never felt angry, and I’ve never cried with self-pity. It is what it is. It’s happened. I can’t change it, but I can learn from it. I used to ski, I now ski with my prosthetic leg. I used to play football, I now play amputee football with crutches. I used to play dress-up and pretend to model, now I actually model.
How did you get into football, how long have you been training, where?
I’ve played football to a high level since I was 7 for Burntwood Phoenix FC. Because Archie, my brother played, it was inevitable that I was going to play too. Honestly we’re so similar, and he could definitely be a model as well, he just struggles to pose without laughing. At one point we were both playing in our separate football teams on a Saturday and then we played together in a mixed team on a Sunday. When I lost my leg I researched amputee football teams and the UK didn’t have any, but Poland did, so I travelled over there in March 2023 to train with their national squad. Since then I’ve helped England set up our own women’s national amputee team.
You’re only 15 and already you’re part of England’s first women’s national football team for amputees. Does that scare you about how you’re going to present yourself, or does it inspire you to keep proving yourself?
When you’ve survived something like osteosarcoma nothing scares you anymore. Honestly I just feel so blessed to be here and honored that I get a second chance at life. It might be harder now in some respects, but it feels fuller, if that makes sense? It’s like I’ve earned it more. And I can’t wait to be singing the national anthem in November at the World Cup in Colombia, and I promise you now, I’m going to score the winning goal in the final.
Every teenager has their worries and difficult moments. What are yours now?
When I was 11, I went to Jamaica and visited Bob Marley’s house in Nine Mile. I can play the piano and I remember sitting down at Bob’s actual piano – everyone there is so laid back and chilled out so they encourage you to have a go – I tried to play ‘No Worries’ … I was 11 and had only just taken my Grade 2 so it was probably a bit rubbish, but I love the lyrics: “Don’t worry ’bout a thing, ‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right.” I remember feeling at peace then. It might have had something to do with everyone on the tour smoking something suspicious, but I felt at peace; and now, even after all of the horror, I still feel at peace. Anything can happen in life, but that’s part of life’s beauty.
Tell us about the motivating events in your life.
I still have to finish my GCSEs so I’m working hard in school. My perfect brother is predicted 9 grade 9s… that’s the highest you can possibly get, so the challenge is on to match that. I’m training for the Paralympics in swimming and World Cup in Football. Plus I’m loving life as a model.
Who are the people who support you the most?
My family. My friends. That amazing network of women online who genuinely cheer on other women. There’s so much support out there, you just have to be open to receive it.
Colombia is hosting the first World Cup for Women Amputees and you will be representing England with the English Amputee Football Association. How is your training day before the championship?
The day before the World Cup starts I think I’ll probably just be relaxing. If we put the work in now then it should all come together for November.
Is football your cause? I ask because when you’re not playing sports, you’re modeling. In 10 years, where will you be – on the football field or on the catwalk?
Catwalk for sure. Sports is great fun and I love it all and it keeps me fit, but you can’t match the feeling of arriving on set for a photoshoot. It’s magical and inspirational in a way that’s different every time. Goals are goals in football whether you’ve got one leg or two, but in modeling each assignment is so different, each photographer is different, each stylist is different and the people you meet on set are all different, and life should be about stepping out of your ‘echo chamber,’ pushing the boundaries and having new experiences time and time again.
Nothing is impossible – you learned that the hard way, but you clearly have a very strong character to overcome obstacles. What inspires you to keep performing?
I live by the motto: “It’s not what happened to me, it’s what I choose to become.” That’s all that keeps me going, the knowledge that no matter what life throws at me, I am ultimately in control.
The purpose of a model is to make people feel something. That was one of many essential pieces of information I learnt at Coco Rocha’s Model Camp in New York… and I challenge you to watch this video of Coco on a shoot and not feel anything.
You felt it, right? It got to you too? Of course it did. This is supermodel Coco Rocha, known as ‘The Queen of Pose,’ and I was lucky enough to watch that shoot live.
Supermodel, Coco Rocha, known as The Queen of Pose
So how on earth did I end up in the presence of such epicness? Well, I was taking part in an editorial photo shoot with the phenomenal Zuzia Zawada when I mentioned I wanted to improve my walk. Runway is the dream destination for my modelling career and I’d started making strides towards that goal with an appointment to get the new Taleo Adjust foot that would allow me to wear high heels.
Zuzia suggested I attend Coco Rocha’s Model Camp where they focus on signature runway walks, alongside:
- Dynamic posing
- Photo movement
- The art of emoting
- Branding for models
- Social media content
- Industry pitfalls to avoid
- Dealing with agencies
- Negotiating with clients
- Expectations vs. realities
It sounded incredible! I applied online and was accepted. My initial chats with the hugely supportive CRMC – Coco Rocha Model Camp – team, consisted mostly of: I have a prosthetic leg… are you sure Coco knows? Are you sure Coco will be able to help me? But my leg??!! I obviously panicked enough for Coco herself to message me and assure me that she personally approves all applicants and she’d been through my Instagram and knew all about my leg and story. Wow! This Supermodel…
…this Supermodel had looked at my Instagram. The fashionista with over two decades of experience. I suddenly remembered some of the stupid stuff I had on my page:
Hey ho! I was in! So out I flew to NYC. 3 weeks from Zuzia’s suggestion and I was there. I’m all for grabbing opportunities and seizing the moment. When you’ve been through something like I have you realise life is short, and you should say yes to absolutely everything. The communication from the team was fantastic. Everything was so well organised and the whole camp ran perfectly.
Coco knew exactly what to do with me. From the orientation:
To the posing:
To the runway:
Coco was there helping me every single step of the way. She genuinely is one of the most wholesome people you could ever wish to meet. She’s real, she speaks the truth, and she told me I could. She told me I can. And guess what? I believed her.
The whole experience was just a whole bunch of fire emojis. The other models were so friendly and there were three other girls there my age.
Not only did I learn about how to improve myself as a model, I learned loads about the industry and everything my agency should be doing for me – how much commission they should be taking, and how I should take more ownership of the future I want. It was truly empowering to say the least. More importantly – maybe – was the fact it was fun! I mean, the whole camp was so much fun! The CRMC assistant team, and Coco herself, were always so full of energy and support. Each night was themed… Cocktail, 80s and Island:
Shoot Day was a definite highlight – I actually realise as I’m writing this that I’m lying… it was a highlight, but every single day was a highlight, every single session was a highlight, every single discussion was a highlight. There were no best bits as the whole camp was one gigantic best bit… but yes, shoot day was truly epic:
I now have two more images to add to my book:
EDITORIAL TEAM: Coco Rocha, James Conran, Jeanie Stehr, Caroline Fiss.
GLAM TEAM: Carolyn Cina, Christina Delfino.
ASSISTANT TEAM: Alyssa Bacon, Leah Ruane, Sophia Massad.
I also have a 100 point action plan that I’m working through every day – one of Coco’s fantastic initiatives that you’ll have to find out about for yourself by going on camp. I’m practicing my posing, my walking, my faces, and my emotions. I want people to feel something when they watch me too.
The fire that I had within me has now exploded into a roaring inferno with a blistering desire to become the world’s first above-knee-amputee supermodel walking all the fashion weeks around the world. (I know we have other amazing amputee runway models but they have knees, it’s easier with knees 😉)
I want to become the world’s first above-knee amputee supermodel
But seriously, all the words in this blog can’t convey what a magical experience CRMC truly is and what a magical woman Coco Rocha truly is… so here’s a final video instead:
My quest to ski like I’ve got two legs continues, this time in Les Deux Alpes, France. Last year I went to Bulgaria as it’s a real beginner’s resort, but this year I wanted to challenge myself further with some blue runs instead of just greens.
Les Deux Alpes is a massive resort with over 200km of slopes. It has four beginner zones, 17 green pistes and 45 blue, split across each side of the ski area, which means you can travel all over the mountains without happening upon any scary red runs!
I stayed in Hotel Cote Brune which was absolute perfection.
It was close to the Intersport on Rue Des Vikings for ski collection and right next to all the magic carpets. The journey from the hotel to 2,400m was so easy and fun and there’s a gorgeous après-ski restaurant and bar to reward yourself once you’re there.
The hotel is right next to the famous Umbrella Bar and a few meters away from the festival stages that are up throughout the season, meaning you can party the night away and be really close to home in case the snow starts coming down.
My skiing definitely improved. I am still nowhere near as good as I used to be, but I guess that just means I’ll have to book more ski holidays and keep practicing!
We managed to travel all the way up to the top of the glacier on the funicular railway so we could visit the ice cave. It cost 6 euros per person and was definitely worth it. I didn’t take a video, but my brother did:
I highly recommend the hotel and the resort. The family who run Hotel Cote Brune are the kindest of people. They answered all of my questions before I booked, regarding hotel lifts (the hotel has one and it went from right outside our room down to the spa) and distance to the green slopes e.t.c. They were always on-hand to make the most delicious hot chocolates I’ve ever tasted, and the ski storage lockers on-site were perfect. I could not fault it and I will definitely be returning to room 23 with the most gorgeous of views.
Remember, if I can do it, so can you.
It’s official. I’m an international athlete. The Official England Women’s Amputee Football Team is here. Not only am I in the squad, but I’ll be travelling to Colombia in South America to play in the 2024 World Cup.
Media interest is picking up and I was honoured to have an exclusive interview with Women’s Football Magazine:
It was such a buzz to walk into WHSmiths and see myself on the shelf:
I was also featured in The Daily Mirror. Click here to read the full article.
This weekend marked the first England Camp of the year and it’s safe to say I’m excited. Our squad is full of potential and going from strength to strength.
A big shoutout to the McDonald’s Women’s Franchising Forum who have paid for our new kit and funded the team’s flights out to Belgium in 3 weeks for a European Training Camp – Devastatingly I will be skiing that week (I booked it last year), so I won’t be heading out there, but I’ll be keeping my fitness up on the slopes and it will give the girls who didn’t go to Poland last year a real flavour of the amputee football scene in Europe so they’re prepared for matches later in the year.
Watch out world, we’re coming for you!
Almost a year ago I wrote about being scouted at swimming. It was the first time I’d been in the pool since my amputation and Derby Swimming Club’s incredible para coach, Wayne Davies, happened to be there. He timed me, said I had massive potential and asked me to come and trial with the club in January.
Unfortunately the start of 2023 didn’t go quite as planned and I had to have a couple of lung surgeries, so swimming competitively was completely out of the question.
Following a summer of building my strength and soaking up the sun I decided I was ready to commit to a club. Derby SC’s main pool is almost in Nottingham and I realised it just wasn’t feasible to train up there three or four times a week, so I went on Swim England’s club finder.
My closest two clubs were Bilston and Boldmere, so I went for a trial at both. Both were fantastic and both clubs really wanted me to join, but neither had any other para swimmers and even though Robin Surgeoner was the Head Coach at Boldmere and he’d previously won 9 gold medals at the Paralympics, I just felt I’d be missing out on the expertise of a coach who’d worked with other above knee amputees. Plus the training sessions were in Sutton Coldfield, again, just that little bit too far to fully commit to.
Then something really quite magical happened. Wayne Davies messaged to say he was joining Cannock Phoenix, my local swimming club, as Head Coach! I couldn’t believe it! The top para coach in the country was moving to the club that’s literally on my doorstep!
Safe to say I trialled immediately and was signed on the spot.
I am so excited about my swimming future. Gold medals here we come.
What it’s really like
Back in January I was signed to the modelling agency Zebedee Talent. Since then I’ve had so much fun filming self tapes, going on shoots and experiencing what life’s really like as a model so I thought I’d share a few things with anyone wanting to get into the industry.
Firstly you need to get the hang of doing an ident. It’s an introduction to who you are that has to appear at the start of every self tape. You must turn your head both ways and show your hands, weird I know, but that’s just what an ident is. It’s meant to be filmed against a white wall, but because it always has to be filmed in landscape, and because I always have to show off my leg, you end up seeing my messy kitchen in the background – note to self, check the surroundings first!
You’ll then recite whatever lines you’ve been asked to learn, or show whatever skill you’ve been asked to perform. I’ve had to film self tapes for a gymnastics commercial, a dance show, a sprinter in a campaign… all of which I can’t do, but if you’re at the stage where you’re being asked to film a self tape then the casting director already knows your basic stats… in my case they’ll already know I have one leg, yet they’re still hoping I can flip on a beam and do some hiphop. I can’t and I didn’t get those jobs.
I can’t and I didn’t get those jobs.
In fact the ratio of self tapes you have to film compared to the jobs you’re eventually cast for is crazy, but do try your very best to complete every single request because it’s an honour to get to the stage where you’re even in the running for things.
Once you do get cast, the fun really begins. On set there’s always food and drink and it’s often around the refreshments table where you’ll meet the other models on the shoot. There’ll be someone with a shoot schedule telling you when to go to hair, makeup and wardrobe… and basically you’re totally in their hands with zero say in how you end up looking.
Thankfully most of the time you look really cool.
…and the times that you don’t, you simply have to remember you’ve been paid!
There’s also the wait for the images to be released. Often campaigns are scheduled months in advance and you’re not allowed to share any behind the scenes footage whatsoever until the campaign is out there, and sometimes you’re not allowed to share anything at all.
Being in the ‘kids division’ has been difficult because I look so much older than 15, and recently my height has gone against me. I was cast in a sports brand commercial but was too tall to fit in their junior clothing range. I was also a favourite for a car commercial where I’d be playing the younger version of a famous blade runner… the only problem was I’m almost a foot taller than the Paralympian is now, so no amount of camera trickery would make me look like the younger version of her. For this reason my agency have decided to move me from the ‘kids division’ into the ‘women’s division’ a year early.
This means I’ve had to update my portfolio from ‘kid-friendly’ to ‘female model’ to enable me to compete with the other women, and Paul Simmons, the incredible photographer from Happy Jack, took some absolutely epic photos of me this week.
Again, just having portfolio shoots is so much fun. It’s a great way to practice and I always make sure I ask the photographers how I can improve. Mostly it’s about your energy and confidence on the shoot. I’ve learned that you just have to own it. Believe in yourself and simply enjoy how cool it is to be a model.
Check out my agency page and book me.
The Day I Got My Blade
On 25th May 2022, two days after my amputation, my mum reached out to Jenn Andrews, having found her story on the internet. Days spent in the hospital had us both desperately searching out happy endings and positive stories and Jenn’s was by far the most inspirational.
A simple email message saying: “I just thought I’d connect with you to see if you have any advice / tips e.t.c. She had her amputation on Monday and is feeling pretty low at the moment,” resulted in the most heart-warming of replies.
She had her amputation on Monday and is feeling pretty low at the moment.
Not only would Jenn call me and chat, but she said I could apply for a grant to get a running blade.
Now imagine how motivating that felt for me. I suddenly had one leg, yet already I was being given the chance to run again. It honestly gave me such hope when I needed it the most. My mum, like she always does with people, struck up a friendship with Jenn, and between them and my prosthetics clinic, they managed to organise which blade and socket would work best for me, and how it would actually all come together.
The Move For Jenn Foundation truly is remarkable. Jenn and her supporters made this happen. Even when my grant was bigger than usual – (I have a little leg that only works with DFTS sockets) – Jenn managed to get further funding from the wonderful Richard and Mary Morrison Foundation. Basically Jenn wasn’t going to give up, she was going to make this happen for me, regardless of cost.
And then the day finally came last week. I headed into Dorset Orthopaedic for my fitting:
Safe to say it was one of the best days of my life. I immediately decided to return to my football training that evening, a feat that I was told would take a while to build up to, but I went simply because I couldn’t’ wait… and I did it! I ran, I kicked the ball, I dribbled, I even scored, all on day one!
Every day I put my blade on and run, and every day I am thankful for Jenn and the team at the Move For Jenn Foundation. You were there for me and my mum in our darkest hour and you brought light to our lives when we needed it the most. Thank you will never be enough. But thank you. You’re one of the most inspirational people out there.
#HerGameOurPride
What bigger honour is there than to play football for your country? And what bigger dream than to win the World Cup? Well, thanks to the England Amputee Football Association, I’m going to do both.
Back in March I blogged about attending Europe’s first International Training Camp in Poland where I met the Queen of amputee football, Shelbee Clarke. Fast forward 6 months and England are ready to launch our national squad.
Amputee football is only 7-a-side but we need more women to bolster the team so we can compete in international competitions… and we seriously do have a chance of winning the World Cup. It’s such a new sport that the trophies are there for the taking.
The first training session is Nov 18th at Reaseheath College in Nantwich and we would love any eager amputees to join us.
Please just contact me for a chat about it on any of my social media platforms or contact Owen Coyle who’s in charge of England Amputee Football on the address below:
Football was my life, and I’m sure, like many of my amputee readers, it’s simply wonderful when you find a way to adapt, so you can still have success in the things that you love.
This is when the England training camps will take place:
Now watch this space. We’re going to take over the world!
