Lights, Camera, Action!

Music blaring, crowd cheering, models processing, I pause for a moment to adjust the buttons on my sweater then step out into the spotlight with a huge smile on my face. It’s showtime.

In September, I had the honor to walk the runway for the Runway of Dreams New York Fashion Week show. Runway of Dreams is a nonprofit dedicated to increasing disability representation in fashion and beauty. It’s about having a seat at the table, and empowering other people with disabilities to engage in self-expression.

As a person with both physical and visual disabilities, I have struggled with feeling beautiful and confident. I was self-conscious after the stroke because of my mobility limitations, and thought that no one I met would be able to look beyond that and see me as a beautiful and interesting person. What I quickly realized, however, was that these feelings were all in my head, and most people I met would view my journey as a testament to my strength and resilience in dealing with life obstacles. So when I was asked to model for the Runway of Dreams NYFW show, instead of timidly declining like I might have in the past, I jumped at the opportunity. People with disabilities often get overlooked in beauty and fashion, industries which historically have not had room at the table for us to contribute. I was thrilled for the chance to broaden my horizons and play my own small role in increasing disability representation. While I was nervous to participate in something so far outside my comfort zone, my excitement for the fashion show outweighed all my fears and anxiety.

I learned I’d be modeling Victoria’s Secret Adaptive for the show, and would be dressed in a cute lingerie set with loungewear. I have foot drop as a result of my stroke, so an important consideration for me was which mobility aid I would wear to walk down the runway. I went with my Cionic Neural Sleeve, a full-length leg sleeve in a bright blue sapphire color that complemented my outfit for the fashion show well. One of the perks of having a mobility aid is using it as a tool for self-expression. Fashion has always been very important to me, and I love matching my brace to my outfits when possible. My Neural Sleeve is just one of many tools I use to help walk. I was excited to model in the fashion show, showing off not only the VS Adaptive line, but showing to myself and others that I could do something I’d previously thought impossible - walk the runway.

The day of the fashion show, I was nervous, but excited. All of  the models got our hair and makeup done, then did a few walk and roll-throughs of the show. When the big moment finally arrived, I remember thinking how nervous I was that I’d slip up and trip walking down the runway in my Neural Sleeve. And truth be told, I almost did, but managed to catch myself before it was too late. So many things to think about - I was worried, was my brace going to malfunction mid-walk, what if my arm bent up, and on top of it all I had to remember to smile! In the end it all turned out ok, and while I almost tripped I quickly recovered with a smile. Here’s to living life with a smile on our faces. Onward!