Wheelchair-Bound Model Shannon Murray Strikes A Pose For Debenhams Campaign (PHOTO)

British department store Debenhams switched things up a bit, using a model confined to a wheelchair in its current campaign, the Daily Mail UK reports. After breaking her neck at age 14, Shannon Murray has been physically disabled, but has still posed for cameras, making her a pioneer in the field. But she called the Debenhams shoot different...in a good way:

"As I was getting ready in hair and make-up, the potential of this shoot suddenly struck me--another small step towards inclusion and representation."

The shoot, for Principles by Ben de Lisi, includes three other "real-size" models: "Kate Fullman, who is a size 16, Tess Montgomery, a petite 5ft 4in model and Tokumbo Daniel, who is a size 10."

Clair Lewis of the Direct Action Network told the Daily Mail, "As long as the campaign is more than just a brief moment of tokenism then I think it should be welcomed."

Comments

[Jennifer Madonia Shirley]

03:29 PM on 02/28/2010

Beautiful photo...should be more inclusion and representation of our humanity.

[wheelietennis]

11:51 AM on 02/28/2010

So here we have a consciousness raising article with archaic verbiage. I am not confined to my wheelchair, agh, please ditch the words confined and wheelchair-bound. I use a wheelchair, simple as that. Thank you for the article though.

[larry278]

04:09 PM on 02/27/2010

How about it HP? Pull the headline for a 21st century non-stereotype headline that doesn't denegrate us disabled people as we cope with the activities of daily living by using wheel chairs as mobility aids.

[larry278]

05:59 PM on 02/26/2010

Smarmy, po-ed hint: those who use wheel chairs as a means of motion consider themselves to be wheel chair users, not wheel chair bound. Wheel chairs allow one to continue to be active & moove about. I'm now able to use a walker to move about. It prevents me from being house bound & a shut-in. Where are HP's editors/monitors to edit a blogs content fully, thoroughly & rewrite offensive copy?

[KIVPossum]

02:28 AM on 02/28/2010

Clarify for me, please. Until I read your comments my impression was - wheelchair user; someone who uses a wheelchair at times but has mobility (some level) and can walk (to some degree) without it, while wheelchair bound; someone who has no ability to walk and relys on it for mobility.

[lemondade]

05:39 PM on 02/26/2010

Having had a disabled husband; I think it is about time the wheelchair population is represented in fashion. Just because you are in a wheelchair doesn't mean you should wear sweatpants!!!!!!!!

I made sure my husband was dressed in a suit and tie and slacks and blazer for church. I made sure he had nice regular clothes to wear for his self-esteem. He appreciated me for it. (He passed away saying how much he loved me for giving him love and dignity.)

[alexii]

12:51 PM on 02/27/2010

fanned