As a para-athlete, South Africa native Oscar Pistorius has faced many challenges in his life. Born with a congenital malformation, he had his legs amputated as a baby and learned to walk with prosthetic limbs. But the triple world-record holder was determined not to let his past get in the way of his dreams. Now, Pistorius is expanding his triumphs even further as the new face of Thierry Mugler A*Men fragrance. “The story of A*Men is one of heroic fantasy,” the brand said in a statement. “It evokes inner strength, determination, power and charisma.” For Pistorius, being a part of the campaign was a natural extension of himself. “I was really drawn in by what the A*Men brand entails and the way in which it talks about surpassing your boundaries and goals,” he tells PEOPLE. “I believe that you are not disabled by your disabilities, but abled by you abilities. I believe we all have barriers in life but that we have the ability to overcome them through a mindset of success and a will of perseverance.” And though Pistorius speaks of strength and ability, as it turned out, the intensity of the three-day shoot came as a bit of a shock to the sprinter. “It isn’t as easy as I thought it would be,” he jokes. “I have a great respect for the patience that models have.”
