About

   Natalia Harris is a 23 year old, college student, professional model, cancer survivor and body positive image activist.  She was born and raised in New York City. Her family is from the Dominican Republic and Barbados. At the age of 12, she began modeling but then had to take an abrupt break to attend to her health. 

   On April of 2008, she was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.  Life as she knew it, changed in matters of seconds. Today she calls herself the bionic woman, after undergoing a couple of leg reconstruction surgeries to insert a titanium prosthesis, surviving about twenty cycles of aggressive chemotherapy and having consecutive physical therapy. 

   Natalia’s question to her doctor at the time of the diagnosis was: Will I be able to walk the runway again? And she has exceeded her expectations. The journey has not been an easy one.  The day after the first leg reconstruction, she stood up and began to take her first steps. A couple of months after, the prosthesis broke due to her brittle bones from the chemotherapy.  She had to undergo another eight-hour surgery to reconstruct her leg again. Natalia has an incredible tolerance for pain and adversity.  She got up even stronger and brought her mom’s red stilettos to physical therapy when she went back in her wheelchair. She challenged her physical therapist not only to get her to walk again, but to eventually get her in those heels. She started her rehabilitation process with the end in mind: The Runway.

Post survival, she began her life again, however was set back again November 2015 when she had to undergo another major reconstructive operation on her prosthetic and knee. This set back was a pivotal moment for a major comeback. They proved to her that these experiences didn’t have the final verdict. Three months later, she walked in NYFW again for designers of the stars MT Costello and Walter Mendez. This pivotal point of triumph jump started her to pursue bigger and better things and she has now broadened her horizons by moving to Los Angeles to further her career.     

Natalia is determined and crystal clear about spreading a message of hope to the world. Although she loves fashion and modeling, her life’s purpose is to use it as a platform to heal humanity. She hopes to empower other young women and little girls to embrace life with its perfections and imperfections, to keep a positive outlook in life and to never give up on their dreams.

    She has modeled for numerous designers and is signed to STATE Model Management. She participated in the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center, where she modeled for the renowned designers of the stars, Michael and Stephanie Costello as well as Walter Mendez. Just recently, she was featured in Europe’s Balr look book and magazine and participated as one of the honoree models walking in LA and NY Fashion Week, for Project Runway's finalist Candice Cuoco and Vanessa Simmons "Filthy Feminist" collection. This showcase was one of the most influential and trending shows on social media particularly Harris' scar reading, "cancer survivor".

    The sky is the limit for this prominent rising star.  She enjoys working with children.  She has worked with children with special needs at schools and has served as a missionary in Peru to provide medical care to children in need. Her story has been featured in Telemundo, NBC News Latino, The Morning Show and Refinery29 just to name a few. Her mom, Dr. Egli Colón Stephens is publishing a book based on their story. The trials and tribulations she has courageously faced, have made her the resilient young woman that she is today. A woman of faith and strength that aspires to inspire in everything she does.