When a teenager was forced to wear a body brace, she transformed the sterile medical device into stylish steampunk armor.

Maddie Cable was in a car crash in November that fractured one of her vertebrae. After surgery, she found out she'd have to wear the bulky brace for two months.

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While most teens would have balked at appearing in public in the brace, Cable saw potential. The rivets, straps, and full body shell of the brace gave it all the basic fashion elements of the retro-tech design trend called steampunk.

Maddie called up friend and fellow steampunk enthusiast Sarah Chacko and the two went to work.

Some copper-colored paint, stenciled gears, appliqués, buckles and five hours of work transformed the bland, plastic brace into retro-futuristic armor for a ‘Victorian-era warrior princess'.

Maddie sees it as symbolic of her own battle to heal from her injuries — and it gives people a reason to smile instead of stare.

(SEE More Photos at Epbot) — Photos: Linda Cable, Facebook