Blog #6: Unique Models

Not everyone can meet the requirements of these high fashion standards. But many have had dreams of being able to walk on runways and show off their uniqueness to the world. These people have been through many difficulties but in the end they get to live their dreams with the help of many wonderful people around them.

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Harnaam Kaur

She is the first fully bearded female model to walk a runway. She has Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (a hormonal condition that causes excess hair growth) but that doesn't stop her from strutting down the catwalk. At the age of 11, she started to grow facial hair and used many hair removal treatments until she was 16. After years of being bullied and feeling ashamed of her hair growth, she had a sudden change of heart and decided to accept her body the way it was. She was often told by her bullies that she was fat and ugly and that she will never be able to be a model and walk down the runway. Until she proved them wrong.

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Chantelle Brown-Young

Also known as Winnie Harlow, is a 22 year old Canadian who appeared on America's Next Top Model's 21st cycle. She was diagnosed with the chronic skin condition vitiligo, depigmentation of portions of the skin, at the age of 4. She was often bullied and called a cow or zebra and resulted in her changing schools numerous times and even dropping out of high school. She was able to model for Ashish at London Fashion Week and was featured in numerous fashion magazines. She was also in multiple music videos including Eminem's "Guts Over Fear" and The Black Eyed Peas "#WHEREISTHELOVE".

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Jamie Brewer

The first model with down syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week which she did for designer Carrie Hammer. Noticeably known for her roles in "American Horror Story: Murder House, Coven, and Freak Show". She is also the youngest person with down syndrome to be elected President of the ARC of Fort Bend Chapter. As an inspiration to many individuals with disabilities, Brewer says that she feels truly like an inspirational model when she makes others say "If she can do it so can I".

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Shaun Ross

Ross is an American model, actor, and dancer who is most known for being the first male albino model. He has modeled for Alexander McQueen and Givenchy and has been featured in Italian Vogue, British GQ, Paper Magazine and many more. He has also been featured in ,any music videos including Katy Perry's "E.T.", Beyoncé's "Party" and "Pretty Hurts", as well Lana Del Rey's short film "Tropico". After appearing on Tyra Banks Show that focused on his life as an albino man, he slowly but surely gained acceptance for his beauty.

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Progress: Knowing what the standards are in the fashion industry, I thought that there would be at least a few people who were far beyond anyone's expectations and made it big as a fashion model. These people are born with an alteration in their genes which is what made them the unique person they are today. I researched some of these people and there were many first in this and that. Especially in the modeling industry, the usual standards were shattered and many new people entered the fashion world. These people lived hard lives growing up being bullies and all, but in the end they got to do what they love and show the world that it's okay to be different.

Reflection: For my 3rd blog I researched some models who would seem as "unfit" for modeling but actually made it big in the modeling industry. Seeing how different these people were, it makes me think why we don't have more of these people walking the runway and modeling for magazines. These people are inspiring many many others and I hope to see more of a variety in the fashion world instead of the standard expectations. I bet many of these other people are hiding and is afraid to come out to find out how to do what they love. But as more and more people reveal themselves, our society can slowly have more of an opened mind to these people and encourage them to do what they love and hopefully support them to the very end.