Niu Yu walks the runway at a show during Shanghai Fashion Week in Shanghai, Oct. 14, 2021. [IC photo]

Niu Yu was buried under the ruins for three days during the earthquake and was the last person in her school to be rescued. The catastrophe caused her to lose most of her right leg, but after more than 30 surgeries, she was finally able to walk again with the help of a prosthesis.

In 2018, Niu took part in a half-marathon in Wenchuan at an event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the earthquake and walked the full 21-kilometer distance. She also participated in a runway show during the 2021 Shanghai Fashion Week as the only invited model with a disability. Today, the 26-year-old is one of the youngest deputies of the Sichuan Provincial People's Congress, a short-video producer, and a part-time photographer. Whether on the runway or in daily life, she is a role model for living life to the fullest.