Heather: I wouldn’t change a thing

Campaigner, TV presenter and model Heather Mills answers our questions about life, campaigning and media harassment, in her first interview for more than two years

Why did you take part in Dancing with the Stars? How did you find the experience and the reaction of the American public?
I used to watch my neighbour and friend Zoe Ball in Strictly Come Dancing, the UK version, and she performed wonderfully. I loved the show, love to dance, and hoped it might be a good way to demonstrate the abilities of disabled people. The US version offered a large sum of money, which I donated to VIVA! (the animal rights charity). I had a ball. It was one of the top 10 highlights of my life. I have remained great friends with my dance partner Jonathan and his wife Ania. The US public were supportive and the response from amputees and their families was incredible. One little girl, who is an amputee, explained that she had always been too ashamed to interact in her dance class at school and always sat in the corner, but after watching me dance with one leg was now learning the mambo. This and the fact that my daughter thought I was a princess (even in some of the not so flattering costumes!) made my day.

Do you think the public's perception of you is accurate?
The media’s portrayal of me is totally inaccurate but as far as the public’s perception goes, I can only go on the reaction I get publicly, which is really positive and encouraging. Many are so appalled at the way the media have bullied me that the words of support include four-letter words!

How has the media treated you?
Some of the media have consistently bullied, harassed and abused me for one-and-a-half years. The saddest part is that the charity [Adopt-A-Minefield] has suffered irreversibly, meaning more men, women and children have been blown up. There are many charities and when the media abuse the patron, people donate elsewhere.

What obstacles have you faced as a disabled person?
With or without a disability, people face obstacles, but I'm lucky to have the mindset to just get on with it. On the days I can’t walk due to infection, bursas and swelling, I just do my filing and catch up on office work. My leg can only take so much activity but my mind wants a lot more.

What is your proudest achievement?
My little girl [Beatrice]. After two ectopic pregnancies, six miscarriages and doctors confirming that it would be unlikely I would ever have kids, she is my miracle. Every day she comes out with an incredible sentence. One morning she said (through a difficult time), “Mummy, be who you wanna be, just be who you wanna be,” then started singing it. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Where will you focus your campaigning over the next few years?
Human and animal rights. Human mainly in the landmine and survivor assistance area, which I have focused on for over 16 years. Most of my work goes on behind the scenes but occasionally we try and raise awareness through public campaigns. Government intervention is the priority.

The same applies with animal rights. We recently received a unanimous vote in the European Parliament for all 27 countries to ban the import and export of dog and cat fur from China. I had to watch hours of Alsatian puppies being skinned alive for their fur, to make an awareness film. It gave me nightmares for many months, but no-one else would do it.

What would you do to make life easier for people with prosthetic limbs?
For 15 years now, I have been working on improving prosthetics. The biggest stumbling block is making them accessible to everyone. There are millions of amputees worldwide and every country requires a different system. Cambodians need to wade through the paddy fields, whereas Europeans want a cosmetic finish as well as good function. Like most NHS budgets, it's a lottery. Some parts of the country can request cosmetic covers or referrals to the best limbfitting centre, Dorset Orthopaedic; some sadly cannot. I believe a prescription system would work best, giving the amputee the freedom to choose any limb centre in the country. As the orthopaedic companies are mainly private and contracted by the NHS, there is no real incentive for them to provide good limbs.

How does it make you feel when people make jokes about your impairment?
I have always made jokes about my impairment to challenge people’s perception of disability. Sadly, when Jonathan Ross did, it hurt many people, especially young children and my family. I don’t read the articles but have been told the media constantly make cruel remarks about my disability. I try not to get upset but I am human. I find their comments disrespectful and ignorant.

Do you have any sense of what other disabled people think of you?
I only know what other disabled people think of me through my website and the forum I set up for amputees many years ago, and it is very positive. People who are not angry and are happy with themselves are always supportive.

What makes you happy?
My family and friends. I have 22 close friends who are so supportive and always there for me. They so want to speak out but I ask them not to as we must not lower ourselves to the level of those who make money out of other people’s misery.

Are you happy now?
I am incredibly happy because after going through the worst 18 months of my life, I got through it. I even started a degree and passed my biology and chemistry as well as many other commitments and court cases. To have done this and the dancing through this intense period, and succeeded, makes me very happy.

How would you like to be remembered?
As a good mother and friend and someone who did all she could to make a difference.

If you could live the last 10 years again, what would you do differently?
Absolutely nothing. Every mistake and challenge and success is part of life's chapters of learning.