A woman who was born with her feet sideways and to the back was forced to walk barefoot for 25 years and says it was a "blessing" when she was finally fitted with custom shoes."

Samrica Zogar, 37, was born with deformities in her feet — a condition that has yet to be diagnosed — making it difficult for her to walk or find shoes that fit.

Her right foot turns outward, while her left foot points backward.

She recalls having to walk on burning hot pavement in doubled-up socks while growing up in Liberia.

Now living in New Brighton, Minnesota, Zogar was finally able to get her first pair of shoes at aged 25 for $3k - which were molded to her feet.

In total, Zogar owns four pairs of shoes — two that fit perfectly and two that still need adjustments.

Today, she uses her platform to champion disability awareness, inspiring thousands around the world.

Zogar, a disability advocate, model, and influencer from Grand Bassa, said: "It gave me my freedom, it gave me my mobility."

"Apart from my daughter being born, that is the biggest gift and the biggest blessing I ever received."

Zogar endured years of pain and discrimination – shunned by her community because of her disability.

Her journey to finding proper footwear began at a 2012 women's conference in New York, where she met Michelle Lerach, 57, a lawyer from San Diego, California, whose mother also had a disability.

At the time, Zogar was walking through New York snow wearing only socks.

"When I would go to my hotel at night, I had to put my feet in the bath because my feet would be so hard," she said. "

When Larack asked what she could do to help, Zogar requested assistance finding a doctor who could address her condition.

The next morning, Larack appeared at Zogar's hotel with a solution that would change everything.

They visited multiple doctors in San Diego, and after having her feet molded, the medical team worked to create custom shoes for her unique condition.

Zogar received the shoes on her 25th birthday.

"I was super surprised," she said. "I got emotional. That's how I received my first pair of shoes."

Growing up in Liberia presented countless challenges for Zogar, who faced severe discrimination and bullying due to widespread lack of disability awareness in her community.

"My grandmother said I was a witch, I was a curse, and I didn't deserve to come home to my dad's house because I had a deformity," Zogar said."



"Growing up in my community and in schools, I had to watch people running away from me. My classmates would not want to sit by me in the cafeteria."

The discrimination became so severe that Zogar dropped out of school.

"I couldn't stand being bullied," she said."

Despite these obstacles, Zogar has transformed her experiences into a platform for advocacy and inspiration.

Now, she uses her story to challenge societal norms and increase disability awareness.

Her journey into content creation began in 2019 when she approached a friend about starting a social media presence.

Though her friend worried about potential online bullying, Zogar was determined to make her voice heard.

"I wanted to break those norms and be able to come on social media and share my story," she said. "

"I wanted to remind society that people like us do exist."

She named her platform "No Limits," reflecting her determination to overcome barriers and stereotypes."

"In my country, Liberia, people think that people like us shouldn't be in certain spaces," Zogar said. "I just wanted to put myself out there."

Zogar's physical challenges extend beyond her feet.

She has limited use of her right hand, which has only one or two fingers, and previously relied on a wheelchair before learning to walk through what she describes as "strength," noting it took a lot of "determination". "

This was strong "motivation" to be able to walk, she said, noting, "I got tired of relying on other people for the wheelchair."

Today, as a single mother to 15-year-old daughter Jica Thomas, Zogar continues to face daily challenges, particularly during winter months when cold weather exacerbates her pain and makes mobility more difficult.

"It's really, really difficult for me with my condition because the place gets slippery," she said. "It's dangerous to move around."

Michelle continues to support her journey, helping with medical expenses and replacing shoes when needed – costs that can reach thousands of dollars without insurance coverage.

"She's like a mother to me," Zogar said. "When it comes to my health, she's very concerned about my condition, the shoes I wear. She has been such a blessing."