From folk songs to Fashion Week: One-legged singer redefines beauty

Before the age of nine, Erma Ayi never thought of herself as any different from her peers.

She'd run, play and laugh with them and was always included in group activities.

Then, one day after class, a boy pointed at her in front of everyone: "Look! She only has one leg!" In an instant, everyone turned to stare.

"A sharp pain pierced my heart at that moment, this was the first time I realized I was different from other children," she recalled, talking to CGTN.

"From then on, people would always stare at me curiously, both at school and outside." Suddenly, she walked with her head down and avoided eye contact.

The girl who once stood confidently and enjoyed being around others began to shrink, afraid of people watching the way she walked.

In physical education class, she sat at the side while her classmates played.

Some nights, she cried quietly, wondering why she'd been dealt such a bad hand in life.

Fast forward nearly three decades, Erma Ayi has reclaimed her confidence and found her voice – quite literally.

Today she's a performer, with a particular passion for singing, and has a knack for modeling, most recently taking part in China Fashion Week.

"I began to accept my physical limitations and stopped walking with my head down.

I gradually realized that most people looked at me with kindness, and I finally accepted my true self," she said.

Growing up in Lixian County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, Erma Ayi was just over 3 when she lost her leg after falling from a rooftop while playing with other children.

A fracture, followed by a splint tied too tightly, cut off circulation and led to necrosis which eventually led to a high-level amputation of her right leg.