Seven-year-old Anaya Ellick from Chesapeake, Virgina, has beaten 50 other children from around the United States to win first place in a national handwriting contest - unhindered by having been born without hands.

Anaya was entered into the contest by Tracy Cox, headteacher at Greenbrier Christian Academy where Anaya is a pupil.

"There is truly very little that this girl cannot do," Tracy told ABC News. "She is a hard worker ... She is determined. She is independent. She is a vivacious and a no-excuses type of young lady."

Rather than using prostheses, Anaya holds her pen between her forearms - and has demonstrably excellent control over her writing.