Meet a 'Logan Legend' – Sara Shams

Her story is one of transformation, courage, and a new love for the city she calls home: Logan.

Born in Bangladesh with tibial hemimelia, a rare condition where the tibial bones are absent, Sara’s early life was shaped by both cultural and physical challenges.

Her parents decided to move to New Zealand in the mid-1990s seeking better opportunities and healthcare for their family. As a result, Sara underwent a bilateral above-knee amputation at the age of 6.

ABOVE: Sara Shams, left, as a young girl.

At primary school she used to walk around on her knees, not really seeing herself as hugely different from her peers. Unfortunately, teenage Sara had a completely different experience.

‘High school was tough. I was bullied and unimaginatively called “No Legs Sara”. That’s why my Instagram handle is “No Legs, No Worries” – a nod to those bullies and a reclaiming of my identity,’ she says.

For years Sara hid her prosthetic legs, wearing long pants and feeling adrift in a world that didn’t seem to be made for her. After finishing high school her curiosity about genetics and her desire to connect with people led her to study pharmacy at university.

While she thrived professionally, Sara grappled with internalised ableism and societal bias.

‘I realised I was holding myself back. I wasn’t seeing people like me represented anywhere, not in media, not in fashion, not in leadership,’ Sara says.

That realisation sparked a personal revolution, and Sara began sharing her story on social media, posting photos that revealed her prosthetic legs, something she’d never dared to do before.

‘I wore skirts without stockings for the first time. I was terrified, but nothing bad happened. That post changed everything,’ she says.

From that moment Sara’s visibility grew. Brands approached her for modelling, she walked runways, and she was one of only 8 Australians chosen to be an ambassador for International Day of People with Disability in 2024.

‘When people see themselves represented, they feel included. That’s why diversity in modelling and media is so important,’ Sara says.

Through her social media account, Sara continues to inspire other amputees and those who live with disability both in Australia and overseas.

‘I’ve had people tell me they wore shorts or a dress for the first time because of me. One message from a mother in Florida said her daughter, who has a similar disability, sees my posts and believes she has no limitations. That’s why I do this,’ she says.

In 2017 Sara and her husband moved to Logan, a decision that would deepen her advocacy and sense of belonging.

‘It wasn’t planned, but Logan is perfectly located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. What we discovered was a vibrant, multicultural community that felt like home,’ she says.

‘I’m a proud disabled woman of colour and my advocacy takes an intersectional lens because disability doesn’t exist in isolation. Logan, being the most multicultural city council in Australia, also allows me to elevate voices that are often unheard.’

Sara, a self-confessed foodie, says living in Logan also provides an eclectic variety of places to eat. She’s a frequent visitor to food truck alley in Underwood and the many multicultural festivals celebrated in the city.

‘Logan has incredible cuisine, Afghani, Iraqi, Korean, you name it, I love trying new restaurants and foods,’ she says.

‘Being in Logan means our values and heritage are celebrated. It gives us the chance to succeed in business, arts, and advocacy. Logan’s strength is its diversity, and I’m proud to be part of that story.’

As her advocacy work grew, Sara says she started noticing a gap in culturally safe disability awareness training. This led her to create Ethnobility, a consultancy business providing workshops, policy reviews, and keynote engagements to help organisations move beyond performative inclusion.

‘I’m passionate about sharing my story and authentic inclusion starts with listening to lived experience,’ Sara says. ‘I want business leaders to know it’s okay to get it wrong but so long as they learn and do better next time.’

Sara acknowledges that acceptance of oneself is complex and a journey, and while she still deals with stares and whispers daily, she now chooses her response.

‘Kids call my legs “robot legs”, and I love teaching them about disability. But not everyone feels the same, so empathy and respect are key,’ she says.

As for the message Sara would love to tell her younger self, that also applies to other young people – with or without disability – who are hiding away from the world …

‘It’s okay to be different. You don’t know it yet, but you’ll be the catalyst for change. Hang in there, you’re going to be more than okay,’ Sara says.

Sara Sham’s voice is changing how Logan thinks about inclusion and belonging. Explore more Logan Legends and send us the story of someone who inspires you.  loganlegends.au