Rebekah Marine is a model and inspirational speaker born with partial absence of her right forearm. She overcame insecurities in her teenage years to pursue modeling. She uses her platform to raise awareness about prosthetics and their ability to help people accomplish everyday tasks. Through mentoring with the Lucky Fin Project, she encourages children with limb differences that their differences are beautiful and prosthetics enable accomplishment, not hide disabilities. She hopes to continue speaking nationwide about how technology can boost confidence and change lives.

1. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 | AMPLITUDE www.amplitude-media.com24
What were you like when
you were younger?
I was a pretty confident kid
growing up. None of my
classmates ever treated me
like I was different. I was
funny, outgoing, and far
from shy. It wasn’t until I got
into my teenage years that I
became uncomfortable in my
own skin.
When did you first begin
to wear a prosthesis?
I briefly wore a prosthesis
from Shriner’s [Hospitals for
Children] when I was young.
It was a mechanical arm, and
I hated it, honestly. It was
heavy, it was bulky, and I
never quite understood why
I even needed it. It wasn’t
until I turned 22 that I be-
came interested in acquiring
a prosthesis again, mainly
due to the pain I experienced
in my left hand from the
overuse of it.
What did you look for
in a prosthesis?
When I started my research
into how I could alleviate
the workload I put on my
left hand, I knew I needed
something that had similar
qualities to a real hand, such
as independent movement in
each finger and a sturdy grip,
so I chose the Touch Bionics
i-limb™.
When did you start think-
ing about modeling?
I always knew I wanted to
model. Growing up, I was a
ham for the camera. I loved
everything about fashion,
makeup, and hair.
Why didn’t you pursue
it earlier?
During my teenage years,
I gave up on the idea of
pursuing this dream because
of my insecurities and fear of
constant rejection. It wasn’t
until I was about 23 that I
decided to give modeling
another shot.
Who approached you
first in your new model-
ing career?
My friend told my story to
a local photographer, and
he immediately reached out
to me, offering to donate
his time to help build my
portfolio. After that, it kind
of took off.
How has the Lucky Fin
Project helped in this
new “bionic” phase?
The LFP has given me an
incredible platform to speak
to parents and children
With Rebekah Marine,
“The Bionic Model”
INTERVIEW
Rebekah Marine is a model, an inspirational speaker, and an ambassador for the Lucky Fin Project (LFP).
Even though she was born missing part of her right forearm, Marine overcame the odds to achieve
recognition in the media and the fashion industry—an industry known for its high demand for perfection.
an
[ ]INTERVIEWER LINDA CALABRIA
ImagescourtesyofTouchBionicsandRebekahMarine.

2. www.amplitude-media.com AMPLITUDE | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 25
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about the i-limb and how it’s
changed my life. I think a big
concern parents have is if
their child will be able to
accomplish certain things,
such as tying shoes and
riding a bike. And while I
assure them they can do
almost anything if they put
their mind to it, it’s nice to
know there’s help available
if needed.
How have you helped
the LFP?
The Lucky Fin Project is a
wonderful organization that
supports those with upper-
limb differences. The best
part of what I do is mentor-
ing and interacting with the
kids, and they’re always so
interested in my new “robot
hand.” I think it’s important
to teach them that their dif-
ferences are beautiful, and a
prosthetic hand is not meant
to cover up a “disability,” but
rather to help them accom-
plish everyday tasks. The LFP
has given me the opportuni-
ty to educate children about
prosthetic hands.
Do you have any future
plans in terms of raising
awareness?
I hope to continue speaking
all over the country about
my story, raising awareness
about how technology can
essentially save someone’s
life. In my case, it gave me
the boost in confidence I
needed to get back into mod-
eling. Since then, I haven’t
felt the insecurities I battled
throughout my teenage life.
You have said that
during Limb Loss Aware-
ness Month it was hard
to fit in because you
hadn’t really lost a limb.
Is there something you
want to share with those
who were born with a
limb difference?
Those who were born with
a limb difference carry this
incredible ability to educate.
I can’t imagine losing a limb
and suddenly having to re-
adjust everything I do. I get
it, and can appreciate those
who have overcome those
challenges. The greatest part
about my situation is that I
can teach those who are new
to being an amputee. I’m
kind of the old, wise teacher.
What would you tell your
younger self?
I would tell my younger self
that being different is an
absolute blessing and that
you’re beautiful just the way
you are.
For more information, visit www.rebekahmarine.com,
www.luckyfinproject.org, and www.touchbionics.com.