In 1994, Patrick Swayze and his wife, Lisa Niemi, delivered a stunning performance at the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo, captivating an audience of millions. This marked their debut dancing together on international television, and they selected the powerful ballad “All The Man That I Need” for their routine.
Renowned as one of the top male dancers in film, Patrick’s synergy with his wife, who is also his choreographer, created an unstoppable duo that showcased their remarkable talent.
Following an introduction by supermodel Claudia Schiffer, the pair graced the stage to present an unforgettable dance performance featuring Whitney Houston’s “All The Man I Need”. This tribute held particular significance, as Whitney had recently been awarded the title of Best Selling Female Pop Artist that night.
The performance occurred a few years after the premiere of Dirty Dancing, during a peak period in Patrick Swayze’s career. His charismatic presence and the captivating dance routine turned this moment into a highlight of the evening, generating considerable buzz and enthusiasm among fans.
Did you catch Whitney Houston in the audience celebrating after the performance? If you missed it, be sure to rewatch, it’s a truly special moment shared between these two icons! The clip takes on an even deeper emotional resonance following Patrick Swayze’s death in 2009. Their fluid dance moves highlight the profound bond that Patrick and Lisa shared, a love that was evident throughout their 34 years of marriage.
Lisa and Patrick first connected as teenagers when they met at Patrick’s mother’s dance school in Houston. They tied the knot in 1975, just a year after Lisa completed her training at the Houston Ballet Dance Company, and four years prior to Patrick’s film debut in Skatetown, USA.
Throughout the 1970s, they chased their dance dreams in New York City. In 2003, Lisa took on multiple roles as she wrote, directed, and starred in One Last Dance, a film that reflected their experiences and challenges as dancers.
Although Lisa didn’t participate in Dirty Dancing, Patrick composed the song “She’s Like The Wind” in her honor, expressing how fortunate he felt to have such a remarkable partner by his side. Reflecting on their relationship, he once remarked: “I felt incredibly fortunate to have a woman who believes I’m the best thing ever”.
“I Lost Both Of My Legs Because Of A Tampon”, Lauren Wasser Defied the Odds and Became a Prominent Model
Lauren Wasser is a model and activist who has overcome incredible odds to become a prominent figure in the fashion industry. In 2012, Wasser lost both legs due to toxic shock syndrome (TSS) caused by a tampon. Despite this devastating setback, Wasser refused to let it define her. She has since become a vocal advocate for women’s health and safety, using her platform to raise awareness about the dangers of TSS and the need for better menstrual product regulation.
Lauren Wasser grew up in a family of models.
Lauren Wasser was born into the fashion industry in California on March 2, 1988. Her parents were both professional models, and she first appeared in Vogue alongside her mom when she was just 4 months old. Unsurprisingly, the young girl would be drawn to this career path.
She lived a full and active life until she became ill.
Lauren Wasser was a talented basketball player who even received a prestigious athletic scholarship. However, she decided to pursue her modeling career instead. Even so, she maintained an active lifestyle for several years.
Her world was turned upside down at the young age of 24.
AtThe Diary of a CEOpodcast, Lauren Wasser, age 35, shockingly revealed her harrowing experience by saying, “I lost both of my legs because of a tampon.”
The syndrome results from an overgrowth of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in the body, which can produce a deadly toxin in the bloodstream. TSS first caught public attention in the United States in the late 1970s when several young women became gravely ill. By the 1980s, the syndrome was infecting people at a rate of approximately 6 in 100,000.
It all started with flu-like symptoms, followed by renal failure and, ultimately, two heart attacks, all due to the rare and life-threatening syndrome. With a slim chance of surviving, doctors had to put Wasser into a medically-induced coma to save her life.
After regaining consciousness a week and a half later, Lauren Wasser shared in a poignant interview, “I woke up a week and a half later and had no idea what had even happened. They pumped me full of 80 pounds of fluid.” Tragically, her situation worsened as gangrene spread, causing her right leg and left foot to be engulfed in searing pain. “From there, my feet were on fire, and gangrene set into my right leg and my left foot. There was no option. I had to amputate my right leg.” Then, in 2018, she faced another heartbreaking setback as her left leg had to be amputated.
Lauren Wasser advocates for TSS awareness and safer menstrual products.
As she spoke out about the dangers of TSS, Lauren Wasser emphasized the harmful constituents of tampons, stating, “[They] are made using chlorine bleach, dioxin, and synthetic fibers, which create the perfect storm in our bodies.”
“I have been working with a mother who lost her teenage daughter to TSS when she was 18 — Madeline Mosby. Through the darkness and trauma of that, we have joined forces in wanting to change the world.”
She returned to modeling and became the “girl with the golden legs.”
“My whole job has been to show that you are enough, and you’re beautiful in the skin you’re in and highlighting your scars and the things that you hate most.” With this resolution in mind, Lauren Wasser decided to return to the modeling industry and started looking for gigs again. While many of her colleagues supported her decision to return to modeling, some doubted whether she could make a successful comeback.
Wasser decided to choose gold-toned prosthetics instead of prosthetics that matched her skin color after entirely accepting her new condition. “Making it my own and giving it life, so to speak, changed my perception,” she said, explaining her choice in an interview. Thus, she became the “girl with the golden legs” and started walking for famous designers again.
Currently, she’s still taking the fashion world by storm and fighting for more inclusivity.
Following the amputation of her left leg due to chronic pain, the model is now able to lead a more active lifestyle. She has resumed playing basketball, which is her passion and is even preparing for a marathon shortly. Additionally, Wasser’s modeling career is flourishing as she walked for Gabriela Hearst and Louis Vuitton in 2022 and was featured in Lacoste, Furla, and Shiseido campaigns.
In addition to her thriving modeling career, Wasser remains dedicated to advocating for inclusivity and acceptance of individuals with disabilities and diverse conditions within the fashion industry. Her activism and contributions to the fashion world have earned her a spot on Harper’s Bazaar’s special-edition Women of the Year 2022 covers, alongside other inspiring women.” I’ve worked so hard to be myself and never take ‘no’ for an answer,” is how Lauren Wasser sums up her success.
Lauren Wasser’s incredible journey from tragedy to triumph is just the beginning of a new era in modeling. Stay tuned to learn about 16 more unusual models who are revolutionizing the beauty industry.
Preview photo credit theimpossiblemuse / Instagram, theimpossiblemuse / Instagram
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