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    1. Style

    Why This Woman Is Transforming The Bikini Body Industry - And Makes $1000 Per Day To Do So

    She skateboards, she models, she campaigns... Kanya Sesser might just be the most inspirational woman we've ever come across.

    By Marie Claire
    Published 28 September 2015 In Features

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    Kanya
    Kanya
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    She skateboards, she models, she campaigns... Kanya Sesser might just be the most inspirational woman we've ever come across.

    Move over Kendall Jenner - there's a new model in town who we're completely obsessed with.

    Kanya Sesser is a skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding bikini model, who makes $1000 a day modeling bikinis for the like of Nike and Billabong.

    And she just so happens to do all of the above without any legs.

    'I was mainly doing athletics shoots, then as I got older I got into lingerie modelling,' she explains.

    'It's something fun and it shows my story - I'm different and that is sexy, I don't need legs to feel sexy. I enjoy making money from it and I love showing people what beauty can look like. These images show my strength.'

    'I'm very honest, I'm real - I'm never going to behave different to anyone. This is just who I am.'

    Marie Claire Newsletter

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    Kanya, who was born in Thailand, was adopted when she was five by a family from Oregon, and raised in the States. She owns a wheelchair, but avoids using it whenever possible - instead opting to get around on a skateboard - and is currently training to compete in the Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018.

    And support has been widespread. Not only has the 23-year-old appeared in campaigns for Nike and Billabong, but her friends are really proud of her too - and she's been dating her boyfriend, Brian, for a month.

    'Brian is awesome - he is very supportive of everything I do,' she says. 'He recently saw me modelling for first time and told me he thought it was beautiful and unique.'

    You can follow Kanya on Facebook here. Now if you'll excuse us, we're off to invest in a skateboard or two.

    Marie Claire
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    The leading destination for fashion, beauty, shopping and finger-on-the-pulse views on the latest issues. Marie Claire's travel content helps you delight in discovering new destinations around the globe, offering a unique – and sometimes unchartered – travel experience. From new hotel openings to the destinations tipped to take over our travel calendars, this iconic name has it covered.

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