The Struggle is Real: Disability, Body Image and Inclusion

Having confidence in your own body is difficult enough as it is. But when it’s obvious that you are ‘different’? That’s a whole new struggle, and a struggle which doesn’t seem to be getting any easier.

With the help of the body positivity movement, an array of new body shapes and sizes have become a little more familiar in our magazines and on our television screens. But for the millions of disabled people in the UK, there still seems to be little representation, leading to a whole new debate on inclusivity.

It can be hard to feel comfortable in your own skin. In an Instagram poll in which 97 people were asked if they think the lack of inclusion of different bodies, especially disabled, leads to mental health issues for those who do not conform to traditional body ideals, 88% said yes. In fact, according to the Mental Health Foundation, over a third of UK teenagers and adults have felt upset, anxious or ashamed about their body, with some even feeling suicidal.

It is tough seeing perfect bodies in every direction you look. Logging on to social media you are often greeted by the perfect toned abs, flawless skin and long gorgeous hair of a tall, tanned and beautiful human. Unfortunately for most of us, we weren’t blessed with godlike genetics. Even if you were born young, fit and healthy, embracing you and your looks is tough when there is a whole World of Instagram ‘baddies’ to compare yourself to.

That feeling of difference is completely magnified for people with disabilities. Being excluded from the basic notion of what ‘normal’ is throughout history and cast aside in almost every industry from fashion to film has left a huge question of self-doubt surrounding the right to feel happy in their own skin.

So, what are the statistics? According to a CDN study, disabled people are narrowly seen on TV with a representation of just 2.5%, these roles rarely being sexy and fun characters. Likewise, the mainstream fashion industry has long ignored the disabled community- rarely addressing their needs. The World Bank Group says one billion people, that’s 15 percent of the World’s population, experience some form of disability, but they are simply not catered for. Casting calls are often searching for ‘diversity’, but disability is scarcely mentioned- it seems to be a taboo. However, many are campaigning for this to change.

Laura Johnson and Zoe Proctor founded Zebedee Management back in 2017 after years of working in industries with both vulnerable and disabled people. It is a specialist talent agency for disabled and visibly different models and actors and the UK’s first agency of its kind. The initial idea for Zebedee was described by the pair as a “light bulb moment” in which they decided if no one else was willing to represent people with disabilities or differences, then decided they would be the ones to do it.

Laura explained how there has been a long-standing prejudice and lack of inclusion of disabled bodies in different industries. “The media for such a long time has fed people images of picture-perfect models, historically very slim, white and a certain look, but that is starting to change. I’d love to think we and our models have changed what people perceive as acceptable and beautiful.”

Zebedee Management has been working to increase representation since it was established, looking after over 500 models and actors across Europe and the USA with a variety of needs and working to ensure that fashion, advertising and other media industries are more representative of a diverse society. The agency does their own body positivity campaigns which are inclusive of disabled people, but Laura says she doesn’t think that alone is enough. “It is all very well doing campaigns but there needs to be true inclusion of disabled people in the industries of fashion, media, film and TV.”

Laura hopes the government will issue guidance or government policies to make industries more inclusive and diverse. “Before we launched, it was almost unheard of to have anyone with a disability in a fashion campaign,” she said. “We often feel like we are banging our heads against a wall because we make the calls, we try and meet as many people as possible, we try and get the press and try to do everything we can to change the industry, but it is so painfully slow.”

When asked what she would say to disabled people who don’t feel confident in their own bodies, she said, “The tide is changing - let's work together to demand that all bodies are accepted and valued. Your body IS beautiful, unique and brilliant and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!”

The agency is an advocate of representing people with differences, so society becomes more aware of them. The founders say this can only lead to a nicer, more accepting, place for us all to live. “Industries have been missing out on some amazing talent for many years- disabled people are just as skilled, talented and beautiful,” Laura added.

Jillian Mercado is an example of someone who unapologetically embraces her differences as one of just a few professional models challenging traditional beauty standards. As a wheelchair user with muscular dystrophy, she took the fashion industry by storm when she began her modelling career, booking major campaigns with top stylists and photographers while becoming a striking, familiar face for disabled people to look up to.

To name a few, the Latina model has featured in campaigns for Diesel, Target and was on the cover of Teen Vouge. However, in an interview with Huffington Post, she admitted it took “a lot of self-love” to commit to her career and get where she is today. She said she felt excluded from the industry, saying “There wasn’t anyone who looked like me in any magazines or mainstream media. There were moments where I had to reflect with myself and repeatedly ask myself that question- if I really wanted to go and embark on this journey. And the answer was always yes, because I’m capable of doing it.”

The more people stand up to traditional standards, the more society can represent and celebrate different bodies. Zebedee is always on the lookout for new faces with a physical or learning disability. If you would like to apply to their agency visit: https://www.zebedeemanagement.co.uk/model-applications.' You were born with one body, embrace its uniqueness and all its differences because that is what makes you, YOU.