Woman, 21, born with a club foot chose to have her leg amputated so she could wear high heels for the first time

Mariah Serrano, 21, from New York, who was born with a painful club foot on her left leg, decided to surgically amputate her leg and replaced with a prosthetic limb so she could wear high heels for the first time.

Miss Serrano said: ‘I was sick and tired of wearing leg braces. Because one foot was much smaller than the other, shoes were a real issue.

‘I was forced to wear trainers at my high school prom when I was 17. I couldn't help but feel jealous of my friends who were wearing heels.’

 In April 2009 Serrano saw a specialist who talked her through the options for amputation.

She said: ‘For the first time I began to think I could actually go through with it, but I was still terrified. 

‘It wasn't until I read an article about my favourite designer Alexander McQueen, who'd made a pair of prosthetic legs for the athlete Aimee Mullins that I knew what I had to do.

‘I realised that a beautifully-crafted prosthetic could look good. I made up my mind. At that moment I chose to chop off my leg.’

She said: ‘It was hard to get used to [high heels], but even girls without foot and leg problems have to learn to wear heels for the first time. I've never felt so glamorous or empowered.

She said: ‘Choosing to have my leg cut off was the hardest thing I've ever done. I still wake up sometimes and wonder where it is. 

‘I've lept out of bed, forgetting that I don't have my leg, and have fallen over. It's still something I'm getting used to.

 

Now she can wear all types of footwear including high heels and sandals.