Melissa Blake was born unusual and spent a long time being self-conscious about her features. However, after many years, she ultimately accepted her beauty, became a model during Fashion Week, and actively works for the rights of persons with disabilities. On social media, she has over 200 thousand fans who offer her messages of encouragement and gratitude.
Melissa never saw anyone who resembled her in fashion magazines.Melissa Blake was born in 1981 with Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, a genetic bone and muscle condition that has required over 26 surgeries. She owes much of her independence to her parents, who taught her not to let her impairment define her.Melissa described herself in two phrases, saying, “I’m a freelance writer who focuses on relationships, disabilities, and pop culture.”
I’m also a disability activist and a fan of witty puns.” She has a journalism degree and has written for publications such as The New York Times, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, and others; she also maintains a blog, which we urge you check out here.”My mother and sister are my favorite people in the world, and our two kitties are the best in the world.
There’s nothing better than spending the day with my family; it makes me the happiest.”Despite the haters who have insulted Melissa’s appearance, her modeling ambition has come true. “When I was a teenager, someone said that I could never be a model because I’m disabled.” Trolls ordered Melissa to stop posting selfies on her Twitter profile, but she didn’t listen, and she responded in a classy, fierce way: she posted even more selfies.
Much to her trolls’ amazement, she can now claim that her humor, selfies, and viral tweets helped her get onto the New York Fashion Week stage. Mindy Scheier, the founder and CEO of Runway for Dreams, is a fan, and she invited Melissa to participate in a fashion event during New York Fashion Week in 2020.Blake noted that she hadn’t planned on posting images of herself for a year, but she began to see the beneficial effects it was having on her.
“With each selfie, I felt more at ease in my own skin and discovered a sense of freedom that as a disabled woman, I had never experienced before. I grew up feeling (and appearing) different than other people my age, which had a significant impact on my self-esteem and self-image.” “With each click of my iPhone, I felt like I was able to have a conversation with my younger self, telling her all the things I wish I had known back when I was a teenager.”
Blake admitted that sharing the selfies wasn’t always easy, as one of her biggest anxieties was anticipating how people would react. “Disabled persons do not conform to beauty standards, and disability representation is severely deficient in everything from pop culture to politics. We see extremely few disabled persons in movies, TV shows, or in positions of leadership.
She said that other people with disabilities had contacted her, commencing the sharing of their own images and tales. This inspiration motivated her to persevere.Melissa modeled this outfit for New York Fashion Week as part of the Runway for Dreams project, in which over 25 people modeled companies such as Tommy Hilfiger, Zappos Adaptive, and Target from the comfort of their own homes.
The virtual catwalk allowed over 25 disabled persons to share their tales about living with a disability and the importance of being recognized and acknowledged by the fashion industry.Melissa has a crucial message for the world, so let’s take a moment to listen. If Melissa could have the entire world’s attention for 10 seconds, she would like to convey the following message: “Please listen to disabled people.”
Our voices and stories important; stop treating us as an afterthought in society.We asked Melissa what she would advise her 18-year-old self if she had the chance, and we loved her answer. “I assure you that one day you will love yourself and your crippled body. You’re also going to be a fantastic writer!! You’re going to be fine, Melissa.”
We are proud of Melissa and hope that her voice is heard. Individuals with disabilities, as well as their environment, are frequently criticized. For example, this man faced criticism for starting a family with a lady with special needs.