Top Models With Disabilities
Whether they’re walking the runway at New York Fashion Week or modelling for major fashion brands, these top models are the faces of the industry. Their charisma and strong social media presence make them stand out.
Each episode follows the same basic format: contestants live together; study posing, walking, acting, and representing a brand; and take part in challenges and photo shoots. They then face a panel of judges who pick them apart and kick one or more out of the competition.
Kate Moss ( Top Models )
Kate Moss is one of the most famous models in the world, a role she’s held for four decades. She has modelled for Calvin Klein, Topshop, Burberry and countless other brands, making her a household name.
She’s also become an international pop culture icon, appearing in rock videos by artists like The White Stripes and Elton John. Outside the fashion industry, she has been engaged to actor Johnny Depp and has a daughter, Lila Grace, with editor Jefferson Hack.
Moss, who grew up in London, was first spotted at 14 by modelling agent Sarah Doukas at JFK Airport in New York City. She was photographed by British photographer Corinne Day for the youth-style magazine The Face, which catapulted her career.
In 1992, Moss began a long-running collaboration with American designer Calvin Klein and her waifish figure and natural look made her a sensation. She appeared in a series of ads for the brand and became the poster girl for the heroin chic fashion trend.
The images sparked a debate about her size-zero body, with many calling it an unhealthy role model for young girls. Despite the backlash, Moss was eventually signed by Calvin Klein and continued to appear in ad campaigns for the brand over the years.
Throughout her career, Moss has been involved in several fashion-related projects, including her line of handbags for the French retailer Longchamp and perfume for the UK cosmetics company Rimmel London. She is also a philanthropist and has helped raise money for organizations, including the Children’s Trust and Oxfam.
In a rare interview with the BBC podcast series Desert Island Discs, Moss revealed that her modelling career had had its pitfalls. She was scouted at 14 and began booking editorials at 16, but said that photographers often “pressured” her to show more skin than she felt comfortable with.
Elle McPherson
Australian Elle Macpherson has amassed many accolades as one of the few female models to grace the catwalks in the past several decades. She is also a multimillionaire, having made her fortune because of her many business ventures, including a high-end lingerie line and several cosmetics offerings. A devoted shopper, she reportedly owns several closets of designer and high-end department store wares. The list of her clients includes A-list celebrities ranging from Angelina Jolie to Kim Kardashian to Kate Moss. A true philanthropist at heart, she has been known to donate money, clothes, and baubles (to wit) in the name of goodwill. She has a flair for the funky and has been known to eschew the typical celebrity snobbery on occasion.
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks has been a model since the 1990s, making her way into the top fashion houses and becoming one of the most famous models in history. She’s appeared on magazine covers such as Elle; Harper’s Bazaar; Spanish Vogue; Cosmopolitan; Seventeen, and Teen Vogue, and walked in fashion shows for Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Anna Sui, Christian Dior, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Perry Ellis, Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, Herve Leger, Valentino, Fendi, Isaac Mizrahi, Giorgio Armani and Sonia Rykiel.
She was also a co-author of the 1998 book Tyra’s Beauty Inside and Out, designed to inspire young girls to feel more confident in their skin. She also founded TZONE, a public charity that helps girls deal with body image issues and develop self-esteem.
In the earliest days of her modelling career, she was criticized for her height, weight, and appearance. She was the first black woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition and was mentioned as one of the world’s most beautiful people in People Magazine.
After winning ANTM in 2006, she became a popular talk show host, hosting her show titled The Tyra Banks Show and starring on the reality competition series America’s Got Talent. She left the show in 2015 to focus on her cosmetics company but returned in 2018 for Life-Size 2, a film she co-starred in and executive produced.
Many of her show’s ‘yikes-worthy’ moments will live on forever, but her good intentions on and off camera make her an important figure in modern society. She’s advocated for diversity and body positivity and even funded a scholarship to help Black women attend her alma mater, Immaculate Heart High School.
Jillian Mercado
Jillian Mercado is one of the few professional models with a visible physical disability. She was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in her early teens and used a motorized wheelchair. Her daily routine includes a mix of the mundane and the sublime.
She landed her first modelling gig in 2014 and is currently signed with IMG Models. She’s also been in several high-profile fashion shows and starred in major brand campaigns. She is also the proud owner of an impressive collection of high-end handbags and jewelry. She’s a self-professed “fashion enthusiast” and is always searching for the latest and most significant trends and products in her field.
In this episode of The Advocate’s new podcast, Judy Woods talks to the model, actress and author about her journey from the Big Apple to Los Angeles, the best things in life and how she got there.
The show can be heard on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher. The most important message is, to be honest about your identity and not be afraid to ask for help.
Winnie Harlow
Harlow, a Canadian fashion model with vitiligo, takes her stage name from Winnie the Pooh and 1930s Hollywood screen star Jean Harlow. This skin condition causes a lack of pigmentation. She is one of the top models in the world and has walked the runways for Victoria’s Secret, Fendi, and Marc Jacobs and appeared on Vogue covers.
She is also a famous campaign spokesmodel for Diesel and MAC cosmetics. She is a popular figure in the fashion industry, and her edgy style has made her a favourite of designers and editors alike.
Though she is a model with a skin condition that makes her vulnerable to bullying, Harlow has used her condition as her strength and has become a public advocate for those with vitiligo. She has spoken about her experiences with the condition in a video titled “Vitiligo: A Skin Condition, not a Life Changer,” posted on YouTube in 2011.
When she was younger, she was frequently subjected to bullying at school, and despite this, she overcame her problems by taking a strong-willed approach. She fought back and eventually dropped out of high school, but that was only the beginning of her success.
She went on to compete in the 21st cycle of America’s Next Top Model, which aired in 2014, and she was a finalist for the show. She was eliminated during the second week of the show’s finals and then enrolled in a comeback series where she continued to participate in photo shoots. She finished sixth overall and became the brand spokesperson for the Spanish clothing company Desigual, a position she still holds today.
In addition to her modelling career, she has launched her skin-care line, Cay Skin, which uses traditional Caribbean ingredients like sea moss and aloe vera. She is also a social media influencer and a fashion blogger, and she has been featured in magazines and online articles.