Daisy-May Demetre walked the catwalk last year at London Kids' Fashion Week. Getty Images
Daisy-May Demetre walked the catwalk last year at London Kids' Fashion Week. Getty Images
Daisy-May Demetre walked the catwalk last year at London Kids' Fashion Week. Getty Images
Daisy-May Demetre walked the catwalk last year at London Kids' Fashion Week. Getty Images

Who is Daisy-May Demetre? This nine-year-old double amputee has taken the fashion world by storm


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

First it was London, then New York, and now Daisy-May Demetre has been invited to model at the top of the Eiffel Tower during Paris Fashion Week on Friday, September 27.

But what makes Daisy-May so special that she's taken the fashion world by storm in just over one year? Well, for a start she's only nine years old. She's also a double amputee.

The Birmingham-born child model had both her legs amputated when she was just 18-months-old, as she was born with fibular hemimelia, a birth defect in which all or part of the fibular bone is missing. She soon learnt to use her prosthetic limbs to walk and move instead.

Partnering with Lulu et Gigi Couture

Last year, she made headlines as she walked a show for Lulu et Gigi Couture during London Kids' Fashion Week. In 2019, she has been chosen to represent the brand once more during this September's New York Fashion Week, which begins on Friday, September 6, and the show in France later this month. She was also named as a brand ambassador for the French-inspired children's clothing line.

Founder and creative director Eni Hegedus-Buiron says Daisy-May is the "perfect" fit for the brand. "I was asked if I was OK with having an amputee walk in my show," she told the BBC. "To be honest I was surprised by the question. For me, a child is a child and thus is beautiful and perfect.

"So of course I said yes."

Ella, Daisy-May's 11-year-old sister, will also be part of the show.

A burgeoning fashion career

While Paris and New York is a big deal for Daisy-May, who is signed with Zeebedee Management, she is no stranger to the spotlight, having modelled over the past 18 months for brands such as Nike, River Island and Boden. She was also named Child of Courage in the Pride of Birmingham Awards.

Her father, Alex Demetre, is not surprised his daughter's success. "She inspired me by showing me who she was," he told CNN. "She takes on life with a smile on her face and she does remarkable things. Whether it's dancing, singing, she is a very special little girl."

He added: "She belongs on the catwalk, you have seen the photos."

A dedication to diversity

Since Lulu et Gigi Couture announced Daisy-May would be involved with the forthcoming fashion show, it has been widely praised for its commitment to inclusion.

The brand reaffirms this dedication to diversity on its website, stating: "We believe that beauty comes first; from within, and our garments are made to enhance each child’s uniqueness. Inclusion and diversity are fostered, celebrated and encouraged."

Last year New York Fashion Week was hailed for achieving a level of diversity never seen before, according to The Fashion Spot's official report. It found 44.8 per cent of runway castings were models of colour, while employment of plus-size talent also reached a record high.

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Always use only regulated platforms

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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

The details

Heard It in a Past Life

Maggie Rogers

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The low down on MPS

What is myofascial pain syndrome?

Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (­connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).

What are trigger points?

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CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections" 

SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom" 

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Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)

Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)

Biography

Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad

Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym

Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army

Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter

Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
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*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

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Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)

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A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.

Badrijani nigvzit

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Pkhali

This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh12 million

Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16

Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto

Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm

Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds

Top speed 420 kph (governed)

Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

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China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

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Canada

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Singapore

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Australia

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Saudi Arabia

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South Korea

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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

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Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
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Newcastle United 1 (Carroll 82')

Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55', Tielemans 72')

Man of the match James Maddison (Leicester)

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
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Tearful appearance

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Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates