A teenage acid attack survivor who has never left India is to model at New York Fashion Week - two years after the life-changing assault.

Reshma Bano, who lives in Mumbai, India, was disfigured and blinded in one eye after she tried to save her sister when her jilted brother-in-law poured acid on her face.

An emotional video shows the 19-year-old, who was left depressed and suicidal from the attack, breaking down in tears after being told she would be walking the catwalk for fashion production company FTL Moda next month to highlight the plight of acid attack victims.

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Elated: Reshma Bano, 19, from Mumbai, India, pictured left before she was attacked with acid and right after, was overjoyed after being invited to model at New York Fashion Week

Impact: Reshma, pictured right with another model, was left depressed and suicidal after she was badly disfigured and blinded in one eye by an acid attack

Selfless: Reshma, pictured left and right, was on her way to an exam center when she was attacked by her jilted brother-in-law trying to save her sister

Devastating: After nine months of skin graft surgeries, Reshma, pictured right, lost her confidence and said she had 'no will to live'

'I am both ecstatic and nervous. I had never in my wildest dreams thought of going abroad let alone walking at a major fashion show. I am yet to sink in the feeling,' she said.

'I do not know about the brand. I do not know what I am going to wear or how I will walk. I am not prepared for all that.

'I am just happy to have been invited for a big event like this and show the world that beauty lies in the soul and not in looks.'

He came to attack her with acid but before he could, I jumped for her rescue. I did not know he was carrying a corrosive substance

She wants to use the opportunity to raise public awareness of unregulated sale of acid in India and globally.

Reshma was on the way to an exam center on May 19, 2014, with her sister, who had left her husband after being subjected to abuse and torture, when he attacked her and Reshma tried to save her.

They were left to suffer in agony on roadside for several hours after nobody called an ambulance.

When they finally managed to get somebody to call their parents they were taken to a police station and then a hospital.

She said: 'My brother-in-law was angry that she had taken their son. To take revenge, he came to attack her with acid but before he could, I jumped for her rescue. I did not know he was carrying a corrosive substance.

'The next thing I knew was that my skin was scalding and I could barely see anything.'

Positive ambassador: Reshma, pictured left before the attack and right after, has been invited to model for FTL Moda to highlight the plight of acid attack victims

Mixed emotions: She said she is ' both ecstatic and nervous' about the prospect of taking part in the event

Spread the word: She said she wants to use the opportunity to raise public awareness of unregulated sale of acid in India and globally

She added: 'My sister too had suffered burn injuries on her hand but my face was completely burnt.

'Some people came but no one took us to hospital as it was a police case and needed a proper complaint.

'After pleading for some hours, somebody called our parents who later took us to police station and then to a government-run hospital.'

Reshma went through nine months of five skin graft surgeries but the attack had made her lose her confidence and she said she had 'no will to live'.

I had no will to live. The pain was unbearable, the smell was worse. I had to keep my face covered all the time so no one can see me

She added: 'The pain was unbearable, the smell was worse. I had to keep my face covered all the time so no one can see me...

'And then came the day when I first saw my first post-surgery.

'I fell unconscious. I was a beautiful girl but now all I saw in the mirror was scalded face with one missing eye. I failed to understand why it happened to me.'

She was left despondent and depressed and she said she contemplated suicide.

'I stopped talking to everyone and drifted into depression. There were times when I used to cry,' she said.

'Treatment was also expensive and I could see my parents struggling for money. I used to tell them that I do not need surgeries and that I should end my life.'

Her father, Zahir Ahmed, 58, who works as a taxi driver, had already taken a loan from relatives to pay for her surgery and could not afford further treatment.

Campaigner: She has taken part in campaigns, pictured, calling for an end to the sale of acid

Despondent: Reshma said she stopped talking to people and 'drifted into depression' following the attack

Transformation: Since meeting the founder and CEO of NGO Make Love Not Scars Reshma, pictured, is said to have 'changed persona'

Strength: Reshma, pictured, said she is 'proud' to have the opportunity to help others and 'give a voice' to others

But Reshma's life and perspective changed when she met Ria Sharma, president and founder of NGO Make Love Not Scars, who helped pay for her surgery and put her on a rehabilitation program.

Since then, her confidence has improved and she has taken part in a number of their campaigns.

Ria said: 'I have no words to say how proud we feel to see Reshma growing up as a confident woman.

I am hoping my participation will give them [other women] a confidence that they do not need to hide behind the veils

'And this is her changed persona that has earned her the invitation from FTL Moda.'

Reshma said she is 'proud' to get the opportunity to help others and 'give a voice' to women like her who have been suffering alone.

'I am hoping my participation will give them a confidence that they do not need to hide behind the veils,' she added.

The fashion show is part of a campaign, #IAmNYFW which aims to increase diversity in fashion.

Producer Ilaria Niccolini said they approached Reshma to appear in the FTL MODA NYFW show at Space 404 on September 8 to draw attention to the 'devastating' impact of acid attacks.

She told Daily Mail Online: 'This season I wanted to have Reshma because the plague of abuse of acid to attack women, so largely adopted in India and Pakistan, is devastating.