Melissa Blake, a woman with a genetic bone disorder called Freeman-Sheldon Syndrome, always dreamed of becoming a model. Despite being told it would never be possible due to her disability, years later, she fulfilled her dream by modeling at New York Fashion Week.

Blake is a journalist who covers stories on disabilities, relationships, lifestyle, and pop culture. Born with Freeman-Sheldon Syndrome, she has undergone about 26 surgeries on her knees, hands, hips, and spine. Despite these challenges, Blake grew up reading glossy magazines and dreaming of being a model, even though she never saw people who looked like her in those pages.

When Blake was a teenager, someone told her she could never become a model because of her disability. These negative remarks stayed with her for many years, perpetuating the narrow thinking that disabled people have no place in the fashion and beauty industry. However, Blake did not let this discourage her entirely.

Twenty years later, at the age of 42, Blake saw her dream come true. She walked the runway during New York Fashion Week, modeling the new adaptive clothing line for Zappos. Her runway walk was filmed at home during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting a significant transitional moment in the fashion industry.

Although the pandemic was a vulnerable time for disabled people, limiting their access to healthcare and other necessities, Blake emphasized that a reformation of beauty standards was long overdue. She was proud to be one of the faces of this change in the fashion world, celebrating how the pandemic revolutionized self-expression through clothing.

In addition to her modeling, Blake continues to be a strong advocate for inclusivity through her blog, “So About What I Said…” and her contributions to other trusted sites like Psychology Today. She uses her platform to speak about finding love as a person with disabilities and to stand up to online bullies. In 2019, she shared three photos of herself in response to trolls who said she should be banned from posting pictures because she was “too ugly.” Her tweet went viral, and three years later, she celebrated it with another powerful message: “Because of you, I blossomed instead of withered, took up space instead of hid. I’m still standing…and rolling!”

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Blake also looks up to people like Mindy Scheier, founder of the non-profit organization Runway of Dreams. Scheier, whose son was born with muscular dystrophy, realized there was a lack of functional and fashionable clothing for disabled people. Her organization promotes inclusive clothing through events like New York Fashion Week.

Regardless of what people say, Melissa Blake is determined to create inclusive spaces through her various platforms and award-winning blog. Her story is a powerful example of resilience and the impact of challenging societal norms.