A Trans Woman Born Without Limbs Inspires Millions as a Makeup Guru

Gabe Wheatley is a talented makeup artist who has risen above incredible adversity to become a source of inspiration and empowerment for millions of fans worldwide. Despite facing discrimination and hardship from a young age, she has never let that hold her back from staying true to herself and sharing her passions with the people that’ve stood by her side.

She was abandoned when she was only 9 months old.

Gabe’s life has never been easy, starting from when she was a baby. Living with Hanhart Syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that affects limb development, Gabe has faced countless hurdles and setbacks since childhood. Moreover, at the tender age of 9 months, Gabe was sadly abandoned by her biological family and entrusted to the care of adoptive families.

Gabe’s life changed for the better when she was adopted by a warm and caring family in Utah, where she grew up surrounded by the love and support of 13 siblings. Her adoptive parents gave her the nurturing environment and the guidance she needed to overcome her challenges and develop into a confident and accomplished woman.

Her adoptive family has played a crucial role in her success and happiness, teaching her the importance of independence and not letting her condition define her. Despite being labeled “the girl in the wheelchair,” Gabe proved people wrong by learning how to dance and embracing her uniqueness.

Her love for makeup has been a significant turning point.

Upon graduating from high school, Gabe embarked on a career as a motivational speaker, traveling to schools and businesses to inspire positive change within her community. Her message of empowerment resonates with individuals with disabilities, as she encourages them to develop greater confidence in themselves.

Gabe’s journey is one of boundless inspiration that can transform communities and ignite a flame of hope for people with disabilities. However, beyond the motivation and aspirations that fueled her career as a motivational speaker, Gabe’s heart beats with a deep passion that was ingrained in her by her beloved family. “I had always been interested in beauty,” she declared. "I have 4 sisters, and they’re all gorgeous, and my mom is also stunning.

“I always loved just sitting there watching them do their makeup and how each one of them did it so differently, whether that was starting with their eye shadow first or starting with their foundation first.” But makeup was more than just a shared interest with Gabe’s family — it boosted her confidence and helped her develop self-assurance, driving her passion even further.

Gabe’s decision to leave her job and dive headfirst into the world of makeup and content creation was a turning point in her life. It marked the beginning of a transformative journey that would lead her to discover new talents and find the confidence she had always lacked. Despite the uncertainty of starting a new venture, she managed to succeed.

Gabe has built a massive following on social media.

Gabe’s positive and inspiring makeup tutorials have earned her a significant social media following, with over 180,000 followers on Instagram and 4.1 million followers on TikTok. However, her journey has not been without its challenges, as she faced hurtful comments about her syndrome and sexuality.

“The first video I ever posted, it was just from the neck up, and there were a bunch of comments saying, ’Why is she doing it this way?’ and ’What’s going on?’ and I was like, ’Oh, I need to show that I actually don’t have arms and legs at the beginning of the video for people to understand,’” she remembers. “When I started to do that, the videos skyrocketed.”

But, ever since then, she has been steadily building a significant following. Through her social media presence, Gabe has created a safe and inclusive space for individuals to share their stories and connect with others who have similar experiences.

Gabe’s impact on the beauty industry is far-reaching. Not only has she inspired millions of fans and subscribers, but she is also driving change in how major brands cater to disabled customers. “I was asked by a brand to film a video where I’m holding the product up to show it, and I was so stressed because I can hold it up. It’s not going to look as graceful as somebody else,” she claimed.

Her efforts are reshaping the industry to be more inclusive and diverse, ensuring that everyone has access to beauty products that meet their needs. Therefore, for her, this is not just work, but a calling that encourages millions of people. “There needs to be a little more of an open dialogue on how to do things.”