Jillian Mercado is a blogger turned model who was diagnosed with spastic muscular dystrophy as child and uses a motorised wheelchair t...
Jillian Mercado is a blogger turned model who was diagnosed with spastic muscular dystrophy as child and uses a motorised wheelchair to move about. Beyonce has chosen her as one of the models to flaunt her latest "Formation" merchandise.
The excited beauty shared the information with her fans on her blog. She wrote: OK Ladies now let's get in FORMATION! So BEYond excited to finally announce that I'm on the official @beyonce website!!! A special shout out to Queen Bee herself and the amazing team behind
it," She added a photo of herself rocking a grey sweater that says, "I twirl on Them Haters" with a white "Hot Sauce" hat.
The disabled model who has featured with top brands such as Diesel signed with IMG Models in August 2015. Speaking about modelling as a physically challenged person, she told Vogue:
"At first I was hesitant. I wasn't sure about showing my world because I didn't know if there would be an audience. We've been brainwashed (as a society) not to care about someone who has a disability, or their world."
The successful blogger and model added that:
"When I was younger, I was looking for that role model. I had people who I admired, but there was no one (with a disability) who I could look to. I was shocked that I didn't see anyone in the industry who was like me. So when people - girls especially - tell me that I'm their role model, I'm taken aback. I love it and it is flattering, but it affects me on a very personal level because I remember growing up without having a person I could look to."
