Recently I couldn't help but notice the growing number of beautiful young women hitting social media, fashion runways and magazine covers with physical or cognitive differences that would have been unheard of just a few years ago. It remains to be seen if this trend will be passing or permanent, the important thing is they are at least getting noticed in their attempt to break down barriers and at the same time bring awareness to their physical differences.
Things started changing about a decade ago when the Dove Company came up with the idea of let's use "real women" in our ads; it was basically still very mainstream and not too exciting. But it was a good starting point and planted the seeds that would later produce more important changes over time. And these changes have been nothing short of astounding this past year. It's incredible to finally see a young Australian woman with Down Syndrome named Maddy Stuart promote her modeling career constantly on social media several times a day. And there are others like the plus sized model Tess Holiday who recently was on the cover of People Magazine and still others who are in wheelchairs, some with prosthetic limbs and some with significant facial flaws.
I think back when I was still a child and young teen and how different times were back then. Physical standards were much more rigid and aesthetic procedures were frowned upon unless you were a celebrity or very wealthy. But more importantly, there were no role models to look up to who were both beautiful and physically challenged. It was also not an easy time for people with physical differences including myself who had to go through school and then through life always feeling like a second class citizen and the subsequent effect that had on overall professional and financial achievement. It's just such so inspiring to see young women like Jillian Mercado who has muscular dystrophy or Winnie Harlow who has Vitiligo a skin disorder, radiate so much confidence, energy and edginess in their work as models. And yes, it may be true that all these young women are very pretty despite their challenges, but they are not perfect and their careers are no less than groundbreaking and their contributions long overdue.
I am very happy and grateful to finally witness the beginning of real change towards people who have physical differences in society and in the media. It's hard to put into words the feeling of inspiration these young people impart to the world and especially to someone like me who didn't have the benefit of their presence growing up but rather just the empty aspirations that were the signature of their predecessors and of that entire generation.
The burgeoning of social media and entertainment on demand has shifted power into the hands of the ordinary person creating a social and economic force that once were the exclusive preserve of the fashion and media industries. Therefore, through establishing a large broad base of followers on different social media platforms, young actors and others in image related industries can attract exposure to themselves instantaneously, anywhere in the world. Images are very powerful tools in reshaping human perception and more importantly - long held stereotypes. Human perception has to be changed first before acceptance and respect can become a reality. Fashion, because it is so visual and trend setting is a logical first step in bringing about social change.
In addition to adults, children also have to be exposed to images in books, toys and media that depict a child who is different in some way. Children are very impressionable and also ignorant of anything they don't see in school or at home so this may actually be the most important group to reach in an age appropriate way. There are toy manufacturers doing this right now (Makies in the U.K.), Disney has their version of differently-abled princesses and there are national clothing ad campaigns that include children that are both beautiful and different. As promising as all this sounds, true acceptance takes time and a true generational shift with which to unlearn that which has been so much a part of human culture and cognition.
Submitted and copyrighted by Davina Klatsky