Viral star’s ‘brief arms’ clip reveals mum’s secret battle with start defect drug
When Madeline Argy’s “short arms” look at Paris Fashion Week went viral, few realised it echoed a hidden family legacy as her mother, Mikey Argy, was born with limb differences due to thalidomide
Mikey with her dog(Image: Supplied)
British influencer Madeline Argy has gone viral after her “short arms” look at Paris Fashion Week left social media users baffled. But behind the optical illusion lies a powerful family story.
The Givenchy shirt that sparked the online frenzy reminded Madeline of her mother, Michaelina “Mikey” Argy MBE, who was born with shortened arms due to thalidomide.
“I’ve got halflength arms with fingers missing,” Mikey Argy exclusively told the Daily Star. “And of course, [my scapulas are affected as well].”
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the drug thalidomide (sold in the UK as Distaval) caused a major medical disaster when it was prescribed to pregnant women to treat morning sickness.
This resulted in an estimated 2,000 babies born in the UK with severe birth defects, and thousands more miscarriages. “All of us have got pointy, pokey shoulders,” Argy explained.
She continued: “Nothing stays on them. Bra straps fall off shoulders.
“You know, t-shirts sag. And that wonderful picture of [Madeline], that’s exactly how I looked when I was her age.”
Argy has since become a leading campaigner for justice and proper compensation for thalidomide survivors, highlighting the lasting impact of the scandal and the ongoing fight for recognition and support from the government and pharmaceutical industry.
She shared: “Thalidomide caused damage to the unborn baby sort of between week five and week eight of pregnancy because that’s when your nervous system is developing and it affected the nervous system.” Argy’s mother unknowingly took the highly toxic drug early in pregnancy, as the campaigner revealed: “My mother, she took it as a sleeping pill.
“She didn’t know she was pregnant. She was five and a half weeks pregnant with me, six weeks.”
Argy described the daily challenges of living with visible disabilities, as she admitted: “Every single day when I go out in the street, I’m stared at. People ask me, ‘Can you manage?’ which drives me insane.”
Initially, families affected by thalidomide received no compensation, but a major campaign by The Sunday Times in 1972 led to increased support. The Thalidomide Trust was established in 1973 following a legal settlement, providing ongoing grants and assistance to survivors.
In 2010, the UK government issued a formal apology and a £20 million health grant, with further funding agreements since, including a £40 million grant for 2023-2026. Today, there are about 440 known thalidomide survivors in the UK, most now in their 60s and facing premature ageing due to lifelong physical challenges.
Thalidomide is still used under strict regulation for certain medical conditions. Argy played a key role in securing compensation, government support, and international advocacy, and was awarded an MBE for her efforts.
However, Argy’s work is far from over. “I always had thoughts in my head of the injustice of the lack of compensation.
“Or the compensation was so minimal… we only ever got 40% of a minimal amount anyway.”
Argy is currently campaigning for full justice and fair compensation for thalidomide survivors, focusing on original manufacturers accountable for the long-term impacts of the drug. She continues her advocacy through public speaking, media appearances, and her website thalidomidevoice.org, where she raises awareness and updates on ongoing efforts to secure dignity and support for all survivors.
As for her daughter’s accidental viral moment, Argy noted that for a moment, the optical illusion made them look even more alike, which she found sweet rather than embarrassing.
“She sent me the picture and said, ‘Mum, look, I look just like you.’” Argy concluded: “It’s quite interesting watching how people’s thought processes change.
“There’s nothing wrong with having disability. It’s beautiful.”
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