A devastated would-be model has vowed to get her career back on track and get behind the lens, after her pal rammed her head through a WINDOW.
Lasha Horton, 26, had her pretty face disfigured by the huge gash across her cheeks, nose and brow, after broken glass sliced her almost from ear-to-ear – narrowly missing her eye.
Lasha’s dreams of becoming a model were slashed after thug pal Genavese Justin forced her head through a plate glass window in her own home, following a trivial row at a house party she threw – to celebrate landing a professional contract.
She said: “My modelling dreams were shattered the second my best friend put my face through that window.
“I’ll never truly know why she did it – but I’ve forgiven her.”
“I’m much stronger now, and I’m determined to not let my scars ruin my life.”
She spent two days in hospital following the attack, in October 2012, while plastic surgeons desperately tried to repair a jagged scar running from her left ear to the corner of her right eye.
She said: “If the glass had hit me elsewhere in my face I could have lost my sight.
“As it is I have arranged to see plastic surgeons and they have told me that because I am mixed race it will be difficult for the scar to be erased completely so I am scarred for life.
“It’s really upsetting because I’ve done a lot of charity work as a model and now I can no longer do that.
“I also had shoots lined up which I couldn’t fulfil.
“The attack ruined my life. But I’m determined not to let her ruin my future.”
Lasha, from Nottingham, was left with two 5-inch scars across her face, and the glass was less than half an inch away from cutting her eyeball.
Medics stitched up the inch-deep wound with 30 stitches and told her that if the glass had penetrated just half an inch higher it would have punctured a vital artery and she would have died.
Traumatised Lasha was prescribed antidepressants in April 2013 as she struggled to come to terms with the ordeal.
She said: “It took a while, but now I think I’m over it all.
“When Genavese smashed my head through that glass I thought I was going to die.
“Now, I’m trying to show that victims of violent crime shouldn’t be made to hide away.
“I’m not going to let this ruin my future – I just want to move on with my life.”
Brave Lasha, who now lives in Bedford, was selected as a finalist as a UK entry for international beauty pageant Face of the Globe.
Next month she will compete against the other UK finalists at Elmtree studios, London, for the opportunity to compete internationally in Paris later in the year.
She said: “I can’t wait, I’m so excited.
“I hope I get a place in the finals.”
Lasha threw a party in October, 2012, at her home for ten friends to celebrate signing a modelling contract with top London agency Demus Castings.
Lasha and Justin had been friends for five years, and Justin became aggressive when Lasha asked her to leave after she shouted at one of her guests.
As Justin was leaving, she struck out and grabbed Lasha’s hair, before smashing it through her glass doors.
As blood streamed down Lasha’s face and she fell to the floor, Justin ran away, leaving other guests to call an ambulance.
Attacker Justin, then 24, admitted wounding but her 14-month prison sentence handed down in May 2013 was suspended by Judge Jonathan Teare, sitting at Nottingham Crown Court, for the sake of her daughter.
She says: “I thought my life was over, but now it feels like I can turn something horrendous into something positive.
“I’ve been doing motivational speaking at events round the country to encourage others who have been victims of violent crime to come forwards.
“I’m also launching an anti-violence campaign this year, and hope to generate support for other victims who have been through similar things.”
“My scars are beautiful, and if I can inspire one other woman to have confidence in herself, I’ll be happy.”
