Ivy Gunter

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Ivy Gunter is an amputee, fashion model, osteogenic sarcoma survivor, actress, inspirational speaker, fitness enthusiast and author of the book On the Ragged Edge of Drop Dead Gorgeous.

At age 29 and at the peak of her successful modeling career Ivy Gunter was dropped by the Wilhelmena agency because she lost her leg to cancer. In early 1980 she developed a tumor in her right leg, leading to its amputation.

The devastation of life-changing surgery and a year of highly toxic chemotherapy gave Ivy new insight and fueled her to take this challenge and turn it into an adventure. Exactly five months after surgery, she returned to filming, with wigs and a prosthetic leg. She returned to modeling shortly thereafter.

Ivy was inducted into the international Models Hall of Fame in 1986 and into the Ohio Women's Hall Of Fame in 1993. She is an AFI and ACE certified aerobics instructor and works with both the disabled and the able-bodied. She is currently developing an aerobic exercise video series suitable for both populations.