Indian acid attack survivor Reshma Qureshi walks the New York Fashion Week runway.

12 years on from the brutal day that changed her life forever, acid attack survivor Reshma Qureshi has taken part in a New York Fashion Week runway show to help raise awareness and offer support to other victims.

“I feel as though it has definitely changed my life,” Qureshi told media following the event.

The now 19-year-old was attacked by her brother-in-law and his friends in India in 2004 when she was just seven years old.

Following the act of violence and years of recovery, Qureshi has become the face of a campaign aimed at ending the sale of acid in India.

Invited to take part in New York Fashion week by FTL Moda – who work with designers to challenge the existing industry standards of models – Qureshi wore a floor-length cream gown created by Indian designer Archana Kochhar.

Reshma Qureshi's awareness raising lipstick tutorial. Source: Make Love Not Scars.

"I feel really good and the experience was great," Qureshi continued.

"I want to tell the world — do not see us in a weak light and see that even we can go out and do things," she added. "People have a tendency to look at acid attack survivors from one perspective and I don't want them to look at them like that anymore … I do feel brave."

"Why should we not enjoy our lives? What happened to us is not our fault and we've done nothing wrong and so we should also move forward in life," Qureshi added finally.

According to the ABC, there are between 500 and 1000 acid attacks - aimed overwhelmingly at women and children - in India every year. While the attacks rarely kill, they do cause long-term physical and psychological scars on their victims.

Now with her catwalk debut behind her, Qureshi said she is focussing on finishing high school and setting her sights on attending college. Incredible.