For a very long time the world of fashion was open only for people whose looks met their ‘standards’. People with unusual appearances didn’t get a chance to shine on the runway but times have changed. The world at large is welcoming people whose appearance may not be conventionally standard. It has not been easy for them to reach the spotlight but are now strutting on the runway, posing for magazine covers and building a social media following. The fashion world is more inclusive today, thanks to these brave hearts who refused to give up on their dreams. Their stories are both heart wrenching and inspiring.
Winnie Harlow
With her participation in America’s Next Top Model, Winnie Harlow received a lot of recognition. When she was four years old, doctors found out that she had vitiligo, a condition associated with skin that leads to loss of color and spots forming on the body. Harlow fought through all the bullying she faced as a kid and made her way into the modeling world gracefully! She has been approached by elite magazines and has modeled for them. These include “Glamour”, “Cosmopolitan”, “Ebony” and the list goes on. Harlow continues to reach new milestones and inspire people!
Shaun Ross
Albinism did not stop Shaun Ross from becoming a successful model and rise to fame in the world of fashion. Being the first American-African albino model, Ross has shattered various stereotypes at once! His photo-editorial features include some very popular magazines Italian Vogue, Another Man and British GQ. He also appeared in Paper Magazine and i-D magazine features. Ross has been on the receiving end of bullying during his school days. But he didn’t succumb to those comments and his achievements are enough to know that! He is associated with the biggest names of the glam world like Givenchy, Nike and more.
Madeline Stuart
You probably don’t expect someone with Down syndrome to walk the ramp. But that’s where Madeline Stuart brought a difference. Name any fashion week and Stuart has been a part of that including London fashion week, Russian fashion week and Paris fashion week. She has conquered the fashion world! The beginnings are hard for everyone and it was no different for Stuart. She wanted to lose weight before stepping into this glamorous industry. She accomplished this by losing almost 44 pounds (wow!). Nothing stopped her from touching great heights and becoming a popular model.
Natalia Castellar Calvani
Thick eyebrows are trending! Natalia Castellar Calvani is altering some rules and the modifications look great. Natalia’s eyebrows always received some absurd comments when she was in school. Her bushy brows set her apart from the crowd especially from the models we see who have them perfectly-shaped. For Natalia, posing in front of the camera had always been a dream. Her sister stood by her side and did her photoshoots initially. Her modeling career began after Next Models signed her. Everyone in the industry is now fond of her thick brows and they are in vogue!
Lindsey Wixson
Lindsey Wixson has taken the fashion world by storm! She is not checking all the boxes of being a model as per the conventional ideas but has created some new checkboxes. She has been recognized in the fashion universe for everything she is contributing to making a difference. Her plump lips that give her a special pout and the gapped teeth are all the elements that make her unique. Those aspects are building a new powerful image of any model!
Caitin Stickels
The recognition of Caitin Stickels in the industry proves that the fashion world is changing. She is suffering from Schmid-Fraccaro syndrome that is cat eye syndrome in layman’s language. The outcomes of this syndrome include facial deformations at different levels and also, distortion in the eyes. Nick Knight, a photographer stumbled upon her Instagram profile and could not help but call her for a photo shoot. Her looks impressed him and he felt that she is someone who can create a diverse environment in this field! We guess he was right.
Nyadak Thot
Nyadak Thot who is known as “Duckie” might not conform to the existing image of the models but that’s where the change begins! Thot’s features resemble that of a doll and her looks have led to people making fun of her. There was no way that Thot would feel ashamed of her appearance and so, she decided to participate in Australia's Next Top Model. She grabbed third place! This was just the beginning of her shining career ahead. Soon, “Duckie” modeled for Fenty Beauty and things just got better for her. People are realizing what true beauty is!
Diandra Forrest
This Albino model, Diandra Forrest has taken over the fashion industry. Her efforts have led to people being more aware of albinism. It is important to spread the word about its existence and bust some myths revolving around it. After her modeling career began, Forrest has been a part of some amazing campaigns and worked for famous brands. She told in an interview, “My mission was always to redefine beauty standards and raise awareness about albinism.” Her efforts can be seen and we are just glad that she got this opportunity.
Melanie Gaydos
This talented model has made her way into the modeling field all by herself despite being a target of harsh comments for her condition. Gaydos suffers from ectodermal dysplasia since her birth. People with this genetic disorder have abnormal development of hair, teeth, sweat glands, nails and skin. She has alopecia that has resulted in partial blindness. She has never considered these things as her limitations and worked hard to get a degree in art. Now she has created a storm in the fashion world with her strong beliefs and stunning presence!
Jillian Mercado
Do you expect a wheelchair-bound person to be a part of huge advertising campaigns? That might have seemed far-fetched a few years ago but with the continuous shift in the way this industry operates, it is now a reality! Jillian Mercado who has spastic muscular dystrophy is bringing new light to this arena. She never allowed her disability to be an obstacle in her future. She studied fashion marketing from New York and later, found herself shooting for some amazing designers and brands. She is a professional model now and is sought-after for reputed campaigns!
Alex Minsky
This retired Marine corporal is now a model and that’s not it. He lost one leg in 2009 while on tour in Afghanistan. That’s where the challenges began! His recovery lasted for 17 months in the hospital, however, Alex refused to surrender to the situation and got back up to regain all the lost strength. A fashion photographer happened to notice him in the gym where he used to work out and that was a turning point in Alex’s life. His shoot with photographer Michael Stokes gave him the break he needed!
Casey Legler
For the first “female male model” of the fashion industry, the start was slightly rough and began with the Summer Olympics in 1996 where she participated in the swimming sport. Swimming had been a part of Legler’s life until she faced discrimination for being androgynous. Legler might have left swimming but the modeling opportunities awaited her! She has been approached by men’s clothing brands to be a model for them. Her looks became advantageous for her and she has been featured in Vogue, Time and Le Monde magazines.
Molly Bair
Conventional modeling is witnessing a drastic change and Molly Bair is a part of this process! Chanel, Fendi, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Dior, Gucci, and Alexander McQueen form a small part of the list of brands and designers for which Molly Blair has modeled. Her features don’t match the typical image of a model that has been created over the years resulting in her being called “alien-like”. Her “crinkled” brows and “tiny” lips give her a rare look. But uniqueness is trending now and she perfectly fits in that spot!
Daphne Selfe
If you think that age is an important factor for the ones participating in the glamor act, then Daphne Self is here to give you a new perspective on that! She is above 90 years in age and is going strong. She knows her style and the way she carries herself impresses everyone. She is revealing that aging is just an increase in the number of years you’ve spent in this world and is not a measure of anything else. That’s how she is still a fashion icon and not stopping anytime soon!
Tess Holliday
With a waist size much larger than what a model is “expected” to be, Tess Holliday is revolutionizing the fashion game. Tess Holliday is a size 26 and has chosen to stay this way. She wants to normalize the term “fat” and remove the disgrace associated with it. She says, “You know, it’s how I choose to describe my body. I thought why not have fun with it, why not shock people. It’s kind of what I’ve been about. And hopefully make people laugh and help people.”
Zach Miko
When the ramps at any big fashion event saw the personable men with “fit” bodies and toned muscles, Zach Miko wished to remove the monotony of the show. The reputed modeling agency IMG got inspired by Zach and created Brawn, a new division that would promote all the plus-sized male models. Being a face for a campaign by Target can take anyone on cloud nine but Zach did not forget his roots despite all these achievements. It’s a trick to have a peaceful and satisfying life.
Moffy
It is refreshing to watch some faces that have an inspiring story to tell on the covers of popular magazines. In the era where Gigi Hadid and Karlie Kloss are gracing the covers of famous fashion magazines, models like Moffy add a dose of vibrancy to this place. Moffy has strabismus which means that she is cross-eyed but that has never been a constraint in her modeling journey. She is talented and posing in front of the camera is something she excels at. Her uniqueness grabs all the attention and has thus risen to great fame!
Sara Geurts
When we speak of flaws, there is everything positive that surrounds them. You just need to learn to embrace those flaws and turn them into your strength! Sara Geurts who suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome leading to her skin getting elastic never lets her condition make her awkward. She poses in the most stunning way for all the advertising campaigns without hesitating about the way her skin looks on the camera. So, the next time you stare at those scars on your body before heading out, remember Sara and her confidence. Be a little easy on yourself!
Devon Aoki
The runways don’t discriminate on the basis of the height of any model. They demand confidence and grace! So, Devan Aoki’s height has never mattered when she walked the ramp for popular brands including Chanel, Balenciaga, Comme des Garçons. She is the shortest supermodel with a height 1.65 m (5′ 5″). The elegance she reflects in every shoot or fashion show does not let anyone question her height! She is approached by some big names of the industry. Her work is not just limited to fashion, she has even made her name as an actress.
Erika Ervin
6 feet 8 inches, that’s how tall Erika Ervin is! Known as Amazon Eve on a professional level, her height astonishes everyone as it is not a common sight in the world of models. There are many tall models but Ervin is extraordinary! When Ervin wanted to enter Hollywood, she did not expect the things to be awkward as the roles that came her way included being an alien or monster. But Amazon Eve did not give up and is now a fitness trainer apart from being a model and an actress.
