IN THIS TOPIC
- The Break-out Stars: Their Success Stories
- Inclusive Fashion: Why Is Catwalking Your Right Choice
- Baby Steps Into The World Of Modelling
Introduction
Is it possible to shake the runway and steal the limelight when differently-abled? Today’s fashion is making waves with its inclusiveness that accepts and celebrates an individual’s existence irrespective of their body size or physical abilities. It doesn’t matter if a model
lacks an arm or leg or needs the support of a stick or wheelchair. This is because the industry, of late, runs on the ideology of fashion for all. They encourage consumers to steer clear of the traditional perfectionism of beauty and be themselves.
The Break-out Stars: Their Success Stories
The fashion industry is increasingly embracing models with disabilities. This conveys a powerful message that all bodies are lovely and worth designing for.
Alexandra Kutas
Kutas is the world’s first wheelchair model. Born in Ukraine, she began using a wheelchair after a fatal accident that caused a spinal cord injury. She debuted as a showstopper with the Ukrainian Fashion Week 2015.
Ellie Goldstein
Goldstein is a British model who hails from Essex. She has Down Syndrome and started her career as a model when she was only 15 years old. She has posed for various leading names in the industry, such as Vodafone and Nike.
Carola Insolera
Insolera is a Norway born performance artist and a model. She suffers from hearing Impairment, yet her disability couldn’t deter her from reinforcing her presence in the fashion industry. She came into prominence after making an appearance at the Copenhagen Fashion
Week.
The list doesn’t end here. Several others with disabilities live up to their dreams of posing for the shutterbugs. Don’t you want to be the one among them? All you need to do is fight for it and never give up.
Inclusive Fashion: Why Is Catwalking Your Right Choice
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Representation- Fashion is the reflection of a particular culture; that is, it is in vogue. The mass is influenced by fashion. Therefore, your presence in the modelling world is essential for empowering the disabled community. As an aspiring model, you must try to do your best for your community’s fair and equal representation in the fashion industry.
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Promotes Diversity- A wheelchair model rolling down the runway will encourage the world to embrace the diverse notions of beauty. By making your presence felt in the popular culture, you can inspire many like you to come to the forefront and rock the ramp!
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Encouraging Body Positivity- Welcoming differently-abled models to take a step on the runway will add a new dimension to the concept of body positivity. It transforms the way beauty and body have always been perceived.
Baby Steps Into The World Of Modelling
If you dream of walking on the ramp, you need not feel left out even with some disability. Yes! If fashion is your passion, it can be something that you can strive for. Here’s how you can do it!
- Finding The Right Agency
Several modelling agencies across the world are progressively defining fashion trends. Many such like-minded modelling firms are dedicated to showcasing the beauty and strength of models with disabilities. For instance, Zebedee, the UK-based modelling agency that focuses on promoting models with disabilities.
- Creating Your Portfolio
The changing trends of fashion are helping aspiring disabled models break down barriers and pursue their dream of becoming successful showstoppers. Photographers, agencies, and casting directors are already experimenting with diverse concepts within the fashion industry. Many Avante-grade stylists and photographers will help you create a portfolio of your photos that has a professional touch. This is how models with disabilities are gaining empowerment.
- Kinds of Modelling Assignments
A disabled model can work on a variety of modelling assignments, depending on the customer’s requirements. There are plenty of options at the fore. You can be a hand model, runway, leg, or even a hair model. Beauty and talent pay no heed to how many legs you have or what disability you were born with.
- The Ramp Beckons!
As the worldview of fashion is changing, advertising campaigns and runway displays are welcoming disabled professional models wholeheartedly. A set of traditional beauty standards no longer defines modelling: slim, physically fit, fair, and tall. With the world slowly expanding to a more inclusive platform in terms of gender, race, size, and sexual orientation, it also means that disabled bodies are an integral part of this transformation. This sea change has made the representation of the differently-abled people on magazine covers, fashion calendars, or billboards a reality. It has a massive social impact insofar as the politics of expression is concerned. Moreover, several brands have created a positive image of themselves by embracing the talent of disabled models in their promotional campaigns.
- Never give up until you have done it!
Starting with something new is not relatively easy. But your ambitions have got some grit. Despite the initial ups and downs, you are sure to gain your footing in the industry.
Several modelling agencies vigorously promote talent based on the ethics of inclusion and alternative notions of beauty. There again, you need to convince your employer as regards your credentials. You have to prove yourself by showcasing your zeal and professional ethics.
First attempts are primarily harsh and unsuccessful, doesn’t mean you give up! Every brand aims to offer something unique to its clients. Walk into every agency with that inimitable confidence and give your potential employers a glimpse of the X-factor they are looking for. Trust yourself, and soon you’ll be signed by leading agencies for their projects.
Conclusion
When people of different abilities and body types gain more representation in the modelling industry, it becomes a true reflection of the world we live in. We are gradually challenging the traditional definition of a “model” that was traditionally synonymous with non-disabled. As more and more brands are keen on roping in differently-abled models, we realise disability is not always physical; it is just a mental barrier you can break away from by posing alongside some of the best catwalkers on the scene.