Clare's loving her legs

Clare Smith featured on How to Look Good Naked's disability special, but before the programme aired, her husband was killed. Amazingly, Clare's Gok-inspired confidence is helping her cope with her loss. Lara Masters finds out about the transformational impact a makeover has had on her life.

Lincolnshire locals Clare Smith, 45, and husband Neil always loved bikes: "We met on a blind date at a motorbike club run and were married six weeks later. We always had a bike or three and I still rode pillion with him after I had my leg off."

This may seem surprising, as it was a motorbike accident that led to Clare's amputation. "I broke my left foot but there were complications which the doctors didn't take any notice of. A blood clot formed and I got Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy which is an excessive pain disorder. I had an ulcer all over my leg; it was like a piece of rotting meat. It was four years before I had a through-the-knee amputation. I was very angry as they could have saved more of my leg if they'd only paid attention."

For Clare, who has two daughters and a son with Neil, losing her leg also meant losing much of her self-esteem. "Before the accident I was a fit, active 36-year-old. I wore trendy, outrageous, daring clothes and felt my legs were my best assets, but for the last eight years, with only the use of my right leg and crutches, I've hidden in big, dark, dowdy clothes so I wouldn't be noticed.

"It was Neil who put me up for Gok Wan's show. He knew how sad and under-confident I'd become, plus he knew I love a challenge and always try to champion disability, as our son Thomas, who's 16, has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism and finds life very hard."

How to Look Good Naked turned out to be much more than a make-over; it was a pivotal moment in Clare's life.

"I'd recommend a style overhaul to anyone, male or female, disabled or not. It's not only about discovering how to dress yourself in the best way possible, it's also a very emotional experience; you learn so much about who you are.

"Through the show, I was given a very real-looking cosmetic leg from Dorset Orthopaedic which makes me feel like a sexy woman again. I am so much happier with myself now, both with the leg on and also without it.

"I feel stronger, more confident and more complete in who I am. Now I dress in shorts, high heels and mini-dresses - all sexy, flirty, 'Wow!' things - to make people look at me. My favourite piece of clothing is a pair of short shorts and my favourite body part is my legs!

"I believe taking part in the show and regaining my confidence has helped me somehow survive the sudden death of my husband who was killed in a road accident just two weeks after filming. We'd been married just over 21 years.

"Neil had been in the RAF for 22 years and did a lot for charity. I'm now involved with BLESMA (British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association) and I'm hoping to do some flying and work with Afghanistan amputees to highlight the poor quality prosthetics we get from the NHS. I also want to make the public more aware of disability and encourage more tolerance and understanding."

Clare is already succeeding in creating awareness: after seeing the show, motorbike clothing company Frank Thomas asked her to model for their "Real Riders" campaign, which uses genuine bike-lovers in its advertising.

Even more remarkable is that after her husband's death, Clare is determined to continue his legacy and fight for the rights of disabled people. But it was with Neil's encouragement that Clare found strength through self-acceptance and began to see herself as he saw her.

After courageously facing her insecurities on national TV and rediscovering the confident, sexy woman she once was, Clare cannot fail to get attention and make a valuable difference – especially in those short shorts!