CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte woman is working to change opinions about beauty.
Tae McKenzie said a health crisis has affected every aspect of her life.
Now McKenzie gives her upper body a workout every day because, in her words, she likes to look good.
However, she struggles to tell you about herself. Five years ago, she had a seizure and a stroke. She lost 80 percent of her memory. Tae can no longer walk and her speech is limited.
“When she first started out, she was more like a vegetable. To see how far she's come is truly a blessing,” said her mother Talathia McKenzie.
Tae is a fighter. She has spent countless of hours in physical therapy. She won’t let anyone help her get on an exercise machine or help her up the stairs in her two-story home.
“Anytime anybody tells me I can’t, I’m going to prove you wrong,” Tae said.
That’s why she’s also passionate about a career in modeling. Someone noticed her modeling pictures online and that led to her being crowned 2016 USA Miss Heels for Wheels, a pageant for women in wheelchairs.
“She was like 'Oh my God.’ She was just totally shocked, because she always wanted to be -- as a little girl -- have that crown,” Talathia McKenzie said.
“I want to change the beauty industry of what they think beauty is,” Tae said.
With a large platform, Tae has an even bigger goal to inspire others just like her.
“I would like to be the first wheelchair model on a magazine,” she said.
“Because you're in a wheelchair, doesn't mean you can't be crowned as a queen or that you're not beautiful,” Talathia McKenzie said.
Tae has started her own foundation, Modeling to Fight Stroke and Epilepsy. There will be a summer 5K race to support it. CLICK HERE for more information.