Representation on the Runway

When the topic of “physical disability” comes up in conversation, some people picture a disabled person in a wheelchair, such as the figure on handicapped parking and bathroom signs. But, this image leaves out many people who are born with countless different types of physical disabilities. The lack of representation of disabled individuals in popular culture is not benefiting anyone, particularly in the fashion industry. The sports industry is ahead because they have a more ethical way of thinking and implementing equality. For example, the Paralympic games have gained an enormous amount of popularity in recent years — inclusion is not new to the athletic scene. However, the fashion world seems to be a little late on the memo.

The runway should start to include more models with physical disabilities because they are extraordinary and fashionable atypical bodies. Obsessing over the imperfections and body sizes of models is getting a little old, so it’s time to challenge normativity.

The fashion industry’s runway models used to be lacking in equal racial representation and in varying body sizes. Now, they’re missing models with non-size zero body types or physical differences. British performer Viktoria Modesta considers her prosthetic leg covered in Swarovski crystals and rhinestones a part of high fashion. Aimee Mullins, American athlete, and actress, modeled in Alexander McQueen’s show wearing hand-carved wooden legs made exclusively for her by McQueen. Last year, Barbie released a whole new line of dolls with the goal of including more of the physical diversities found in society. So, a little girl with vitiligo or a prosthetic limb has a Barbie doll that looks like her, a more realistic representation compared to the standard doll. Fashion brands are supposed to be representing us, the consumer. Let us redefine what “us” should mean here with an open mind. Who is us? What does the average norm present? To have an open mind is to realize, for people born with natural variations, this is their normal and pop culture needs to reflect that. Visibly different or not, people’s bodies are meant to be different. No one’s body looks the same way as another. So why the stigma?

Beauty standards make it impossible for us to feel complete, regardless of how we look. At some point, it affects us all, no exceptions. Personally, I have never considered myself as born disabled. Maybe because I was born this way, I can’t imagine myself in need of something I never had. We all have scars, stretch marks, and disfigurements, but they don’t make us imperfect or incomplete in any way. We are perfect because we are the way we are. People don’t always have the privilege of being exposed to others with physical disabilities because some of the disabilities are hidden. They blend in with others, or they’re not visibly apparent on a daily basis. In my case, no one gets to know about my little left foot unless they see me barefoot. There’s a stigma behind bodies with disabilities because it’s often associated with weakness or deficiency, but this stigma is slowly changing with the help of famous influencers on social media, like Paola Antonini.

People with disabilities have been sidelined for years. However, the fashion industry has the power to put anyone on the map at the fastest pace. Exposure in the fashion world matters because it normalizes something that has many public misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding it. The runway lacks creativity in its choice of models—and that’s something everyone wants to see change. There’s nothing more precious than the human body being embraced in all its forms. Fashion and creativity should be used as tools to include more diversity and more bodies as they have the power to start new conversations and to present unique material to the world. Fashion model Winnie Harlow has undoubtedly made a name for herself, but that’s still not enough. We live in a time when breaking the stigma is embraced and encouraged, and it’s time for us to break down this one.