Model removes 3D bionic arm on a catwalk at London Fashion Week

A model has been applauded by celebrities and other audience members for removing one of her 3D bionic arms during a catwalk show at London Fashion Week.

Tilly Lockey, 17, from Newcastle Upon Tyne, lost her arms to meningitis when she was a baby and has since become a champion of diversity by showing the world it is "cool to be different".

The teenager has been working on the design and development of her "Hero Arms" with Open Bionics since she was nine.

And during a fashion show, at London’s Freemason Hall, she decided to pull off one of her printed limbs – in front of a star-studded crowd.

Celebrities in the audience at the event, which was sponsored by Models of Diversity, included Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri, Kate Moss’s sister, Lottie Moss, Jo Wood, Venessa Feltz, and Made In Chelsea’s Stephanie Pratt.

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After the runway, Wood and Ghouri made their way over to congratulate Lockey on her efforts and find out how her tech works.

Lockey was taking part in the event on behalf of clothing designers Unhidden, and bionic arm designers Open Bionics.

"I just felt inspired and super confident," she says of the show.

"This runway is about being different and embracing who you are and I am proud of who I am.

"I'm a survivor and I love how I look and how my bionic arms make me feel.

"I was just being myself," she adds.

"I can't wait to walk the runway again."

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Speaking of the moment Lockey removed her bionic arms Samantha Payne, the co-founder of Open Bionics says it was "incredible".

"It felt provocative and shows how confident Tilly is in her body and personality," she adds.

"Fashion is about finding ways to express your individuality and so it felt perfect for the runway at London Fashion Week.

"And yet the fashion industry does so much to prevent us seeing and celebrating bodies that look different.

"We’re grateful to Models of Diversity for challenging the status quo within the fashion and beauty industry and celebrating all forms of beauty.”

Hero Arms are designed with stylish magnetic covers meaning that users get to swap styles and change how their bionic arms look.

The Hero Arms are 3D-printed multi-grip bionic arms with electromyographic sensors in the socket that sense subtle muscle movement beneath the skin.

A user lightly squeezes their muscles to control their bionic fingers.

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Following the show, Models of Diversity shared a series of images and videos to its social media channels, praising the models who took part, including Lockey.

The model also shared her pride at taking part in the event.

"Amazing day yesterday @LondonFashionWk with @openbionics," she wrote on Twitter.

"I’m still buzzing!! Prosthetics can be stylish. Embrace your style and individuality."

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And the show certainly seemed to go down well with fans, with many praising Lockey for her confident act.

"What a moment," one fan tweeted.

"Yessssss," another agreed. "Loving this representation."

"Super inspiring," another user commented on Instagram.

"I've not seen prosthetics with so much flare and style that really leans into the cyber look," yet another person tweeted.

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Speaking about the show, a spokesperson for Models of Diversity, adds: "The model cast is how MOD has envisaged catwalks for the past 14 years, celebrating beauty in all its different forms and featuring top fashion designed to be inclusive.

"When the image of beauty and desirability never looks like you, it can have a damaging effect on your self-esteem and, at times, make it incredibly difficult to accept your own body.

"This show was a positive, revolutionary catwalk of inclusion that we hope enacts real change across the media, beauty and fashion industry."

Additional reporting SWNS.