Viktoria Modesta, a Latvian-born English singer-songwriter bionic performance artist and model had a voluntary below-the-knee leg amputation to improve her mobility and safeguard her future health. (Image Source: viktoriamodesta.com)
http://www.viktoriamodesta.com/
Every age and society has defined their version of what beauty is or should be based on the “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” view of physical attraction. What we see as flawed, different or abnormal from our so-called definition of perfection shows us just how perfectly imperfect we all are.
Jillian Mercado, an American fashion model is represented by IMG Models and is a wheelchair user. At the age of 13, she was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. (Image source: The Fashion Hero)
https://www.imgmodels.com/jillianmercado
In the world of beauty and fashion, we grab a hold of images that tell us you must have certain attributes in order to be accepted in these industries. Falling outside of such guidelines these physical images interject, you are immediately rejected like a diseased castaway on a deserted island. Sadly, this is the society we live in. Yet, it is tremendously refreshing to see the tide turning and new perfection is found in the altered state of our definition of perfection. Hallelujah!
Winnie Harlow (born Chantelle Brown-Young), a Canadian fashion model and public spokesperson on the skin condition vitiligo gained prominence as a contestant on the twenty-first cycle of America’s Next Top Model due to her condition. (Image Cosmopolitan.com)
New voices are exploding and have been appearing on the scene in the beauty and fashion industries to redefine the abilities of disability. We are seeing blossoms representing diverse races, creeds, cultures, and victories over debilitating adversities. Today on Fashion Forward Friday, I am honored and humbled to present a few of these brave, bold models who are defying the laws of society’s typical definition of beauty representations in industries that are perfectly imperfect.
Chelsea Werner, a two-times World Champion Gymnast and four-times US Special Olympics National Champion and model, has Down Syndrome. (Image Source: yoocanfind.com)
http://chelseaworldchampion.com/
Rafi Solaiman suffered a massive brain hemorrhage at age 12 that left him unable to talk. He defied the odds by overcoming “Locked-In Syndrome” Coma to Modeling and World Championship Race Running. He models for Zebedee. (Image Source: Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/rafi_solaiman
Mama Cax, born Cacsmy Brutus is a Haitian-American Blogger, Advocate, Motivational Speaker, and Model represented by JAG Models. At age 14 she was diagnosed with bone and lung cancer and lost her right leg soon after with an amputation at the hip. (Image source: cdn.wimg.jp)
These models show a true declaration of independence to teach the treasures of freedom no longer hindered by the stronghold of public opinion of what beauty is supposed to be or look like.
From Behind the Pen 
Refreshing beyond the run-of-the-mill models! 🙂
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Amen Tom! 🙂
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