Author:Sara RadinUpdated:Jan 21, 2020Original:Jan 21, 2020Since she first started modeling six years ago, Jillian Mercado has graced the cover of Teen Vogue, starred in campaigns for brands like Target and Nordstrom and has become a thought-leader in the fashion industry. Through it all, she has used her platform to advocate for people with disabilities who historically haven't been represented or catered to in this space.
"My mom loves to go shopping and we always went shopping together. I remember buying bigger sizes [when I was growing up]. If I was an extra small my mom would get me a medium because at the time I was wearing braces. We had to be creative and find something that was comfortable. But also when I was younger it was crucial to me to not show that I had braces. I was really insecure about them.
"As I got older, I was always thinking, 'How do I become more independent?' My mom would always say this phrase in Spanish that means, 'I'm not going to be here forever.' It was kind of intense to hear [that] as a child, but it made me consider: If nobody is there to help me, how can I do things by myself? I would buy things thinking, 'Can I remove this and put this on myself?' I still go by that rule today.
"I realized no one was going to help me. No designer was going to figure out a creative way where we all can wear jeans. That was always frustrating. I think it was around that time I created a list of things that I love doing and make me happy — going to the ballet, to the movies or hanging out with my friends. One of them was working in fashion.
"It's been awesome working with Tommy Hilfiger [on campaigns for its adaptive fashion line]. It introduced the idea that big brands can cater to people who have disabilities and it doesn't have to be dramatic. A lot of companies say it's a lot of money, but that's honestly an excuse — you just have to be creative about it. Have a team with people who actually have disabilities to help you do it. I'm thankful that they at least started the conversation.
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