Woman whose boyfriend told her she was ‘half the girl she was’ after a car crash left her paralysed becomes diversity model

Lena McAllister (26) nearly died when she was hit by a 40-ton truck in 2009, after she lost control of her car.

She was left with a shattered pelvis, a broken femur and a T12 to L1 spinal cord injury - which left her paraplegic.

Although she survived the accident, she had to be “brought back to life by doctors multiple times”, reports The Mirror.

After 10 months of recovering in hospital and in a care home, she says she received another shock. 

“An ex-boyfriend told me that I was ‘as good as half a woman’ that I didn’t ‘act or dress like a woman’ any more,” she told Daily Mail.

The part-time property development accountant added those words unexpectedly made her stronger.

“Those words made me tougher – and with relationships, I won't put up with anyone who’ll treat me as delicate or fragile.

“While I was recovering an older woman in a wheelchair told me, ‘Don’t settle’ and at first I didn’t understand what she meant, but now I know that I shouldn’t compromise or settle with things because I have a disability.”

Lena says she has used her ex’s words to inspire her to change people’s perceptions about disabilities by entering Miss Cumbria beauty pageant last year.

Lena, from Carlisle in Cumbria, added that she’s determined to show others that disabled people can be “just as sexy and attractive” as able-bodied models.

“I have fire in my belly, I want to prove everyone wrong. Why should I hide or feel sorry for myself because I’m disabled?

“I’ll keep on showing everyone what I can do and not let life hold me back,” she told Metro UK.

Lena now wants to model full time through Models of Diversity (MOD). Angel Sinclair, founder of MOD told Metro UK, the first thing she noticed about Lena was her beauty.

“The way she just oozes confidence and holds such a great energy about her. Lena is such a great role model for MOD – it takes a lot of strength to overcome abuse.

“She’s setting such a great example to others to stay positive and to always stay true to your dreams and ambitions regardless of what others have to say.”

 Sources: Metro UK, Daily Mail, The Mirror