23-Year-Old Woman with Limb Difference Used to Pay Full Price for Manicures — Until She Decided to Speak Up (Exclusive)

• Caitlyn Giannini was born with a limb difference and, as a result, is missing part of her right arm

• Growing up, the Carmel, Calif., native was insecure of herself, often hiding her arm with her sleeve

• Since going to college, she's become more confident in herself and her ability to advocate for herself

Caitlyn Giannini likes to believe she can do pretty much anything she sets her mind to — except, she jokes, maybe the monkey bars.

The Carmel, Calif., native was born with a limb difference that wasn't detected during her mom's pregnancy and, as a result, is missing part of her right arm. As a child, Giannini, who now lives in New York City and works at a PR agency, recalls being bubbly and outgoing, despite her physical difference.

"As I grew up, I became more insecure," she continues. "My parents wanted me to try using a prosthetic arm because they just wanted to provide me with all the tools possible. So I went to physical therapy, got a prosthetic arm and wore it, expecting it would help me fit in more. But instead, what happened was that it made the kids in my class way more curious. They were like, 'Wait, what is this device?' "

"So, I went home to my parents and said, 'I don't need this. I never want to wear this again,' " she recalls. "They never made me wear it again."

Related: Caitlyn Giannini posts about her limb difference on TikTok.

When she entered high school, Giannini wore a long-sleeve shirt almost every day, hoping that hiding her arm would help her avoid questions. To this day, she says there are probably some people from high school who still don’t know she only had one hand.

"I’m so lucky I never experienced blatant bullying or exclusion, or felt isolated. I’m very, very grateful, and I know that’s not the case for everyone — everyone has their own story," she says. "That said, despite all of that, there were still many small moments that anyone with a limb difference — or anyone who is different in some way — can relate to."

"Kids are naturally curious, and they ask questions," she adds. "I knew that whenever I walked into a room full of new people, I’d be bombarded with questions: 'What happened to your arm?' "

Then she began college at the University of Southern California, and things changed.

"I didn’t want it to become my entire identity, but I also didn’t want to ignore it completely," she says. "Eventually, I got past that and realized, yes, I have so much more to offer than just the fact that I have one hand — but the reality is, I do have one hand."

"I realized this is something that’s with me for life," she adds. "Why am I spending so much time and energy trying to hide something that makes me wonderfully unique and, well, makes me, me?"

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Giannini explains during her interview with PEOPLE that when she meets someone for the first time, one of the first questions they ask is whether she gets half-off manicures. For a while, she was too shy to address it, often leaving the responsibility up to her mom.

She recalls one instance at a salon where they charged her full price, and she walked out without saying anything. "To this day, it still haunts me," she admits. But in December 2024, after receiving a $40 manicure, the manicurist offered her only a $10 discount, and Giannini realized enough was enough and decided to speak up.

"In the past, it was easier for me to just not acknowledge my differences, not stand up for myself, and pay the full price, then move on with my life," she says. "I wasn’t at a place where I felt secure enough to advocate for myself."

"I think that experience at the nail salon was a microcosm of my life," she adds. "My ability to stand up for myself reflects my acceptance of my limb difference. It’s about acknowledging that, yes, I do have a difference, but not letting it define me. I think it's easier to deny my obvious physical difference and just pay the full price. But, for me, it takes more courage and self-acceptance to advocate for myself this way."

Later, Giannini shared her experience on TikTok, where the video quickly went viral, garnering more than 2.5 million views and nearly 2,000 comments.

"I just sat down and thought, 'I might as well film this. Who knows if it'll do well or if anyone will care, but let me just film it,' " she recalls. "I filmed it, and the video got a good amount of traction. Then I filmed a follow-up about my experience at the nail salon, and that got a lot of attention, too. More questions started flowing in, and I thought, 'Wow, there's a bigger market for this than I ever anticipated.' "

"Since then, I've continued to post and answer questions," she continues. "Of course, some of the questions are funny, but I love hearing all of them. Most importantly, the most rewarding part has been the incredibly kind messages I've received. I've even been talking with a girl in my DMs who's in the exact same place I was in high school."

Looking back on her life, Giannini says that having a limb difference has added so much color to her world, bringing her wonderful experiences and valuable life lessons. And, she knows this is just the beginning.

"I genuinely would not change this about myself for the world," she says. "And I don’t think that’s something I would’ve always said."

"I just hope people remember, at the end of the day, that you were made the way you are for a reason," she continues. "The longer you try to change yourself and conform to society, trying to be like everyone else, the further away you get from who you were meant to be. The moment you embrace your differences, your life will truly flourish. At least, that’s been my experience."

"It’s crazy to look back now, and when I do, my heart really hurts for that girl who was hiding her arm. Because now, I wear it so proudly," she continues.

Read the original article on People