Please don't call Sophia Malthus inspirational. You may not realise, but it can seem like a back-handed compliment.
The Aucklander was 19 when she was thrown from a racehorse, landing on a fence. She was paralysed from the neck down, impairing 87% of her body. Now studying law, Sophia uses her spare time to create content for social media on Instagram and TikTok (@itssophandindy), which has led to the production of the new series This Is Wheel Life.
"To be called inspiring is actually patronising," she says, without wanting to be any more insulting to someone who is in awe of what she has achieved since the 2016 accident.
"We [quadriplegics and tetraplegics] have been given this life just like you have been given your life. You're living it and I am not telling you you're inspirational."
Beside her sits her carer and cousin Indy Henman, who adds, "It's like they are saying, 'Wow, you're still happy even though you're disabled. It's like their expectations of you are far less than what you are doing.
'Instead, I would say Soph is very resilient. She just gets on with it. She accepted the injury pretty fast.
"She doesn't like the term inspiring, but I think she does motivate a lot of people. She shows that life doesn't stop when hardship happens. And when challenges come up, she just adapts and problem solves."
Denne historien er fra July 31, 2023-utgaven av Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 31, 2023-utgaven av Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
TREASURE & TRAUMA
The launch of the new season of Celebrity Treasure Island doubled as an eighth wedding anniversary celebration for contestant Millen Baird and his wife Siobhan Marshall, who came fourth on the show back in 2022.
JUDGE JAY-JAY
Radio diva Jay-Jay Feeney delivers her verdict on your biggest dilemmas
CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'
The Te Puke gym owner refused to let a devastating accident stop her from becoming a mother
DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO
The Emmy Award-winning writer is starring in a macabre new comedy
TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!
Rosa and Margo have a new cookbook and bundle of joy on the way
HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR
The son of a Kiwi sporting Legend, Cantona Stewart is making waves in Summer Bay
TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'
The actress and director opens up about her terrifying ordeal
CARMEL SEPULONI I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!
Our former deputy PM the lessons she's learnt in politics on CTI
KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR
The Black Ferns co-captain and her rugby star husband organised the ir nuptials in just five days!
THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!
Their lovable bromance is stealing the spotlight in Venice!