Choosing the right career can be a difficult decision for anyone no matter what their age with different sectors and professions being more competitive than others. The latest employment statistics illustrate that there are just under one and a half million people who are unemployed in the UK. This equates to around 4.4% of the total population. To help strengthen the economy, there needs to be a way of helping to support everyone in to the work force so that they are more capable of living their lives and being financially independent.
There are however many sectors with in the economy which remain extremely competitive to gain access to thus get your foot in the door. There are ongoing shortages in areas such as health and social care which means that people with in society who actually need the support in order to live their lives can find this very hard to come by.
Another example of career which can be extremely competitive is that of being a model. Normally when someone thinks of models, they think of someone who has flawless skin, a nice tall figure and an elegance in moving around the place, This kind of stereotype generally comes from the people we see on the covers of magazine covers or on catwalks at different events. This can give a very misleading impression of how society operates as it has been proven that the modelling industry historically has barriers to those with disabilities. This can leave them feeling discriminated against and isolated from their friends and peers.
The government’s own National Careers Service website states, for example: “You’ll need a good appearance and the right ‘look’ for the area of modelling you want to go into. You should usually be well-proportioned for fashion modelling, with regular features and healthy skin, teeth and hair.” This description of requirements for models suggests the industry is exclusionary for people of non ‘regular’ body shapes.
Recently, there has been a growing recognition that beautiful body types come in all shapes and sizes which is helping to pave the way for a cultural change and prevalence for more visibly disabled models gracing high profile campaigns on billboards, magazine covers and out TV screens.
There has also been a growth in inclusive modelling agencies, who have exerted their own influence to call for meaningful change within an industry that has typically taken an ableist, exclusionary or tokenistic approach.
It’s estimated that there are several hundred modelling agencies operating across the UK, all of which have a different kind of clientele and produce shows for a different kind of audience. Contrary to this figure there are very few agencies which operate to help models who have disabilities gain a foot hold in the industry. A brand that does operate with an inclusive ethos and caters for the disabled community is Understatement. This is an upcoming underwear brand based in Stockholm. They are currently running a campaign which includes many models with a disabled or diverse background. One of these models is Kerri Manning who has an extensive background in the industry and wants to promote more awareness and understanding of how ADHD and other illnesses can impact people and their functioning in the community.
Kerri is currently taking part in an underwear modelling campaign conducted by Understatement. She is also part of a modelling agency that is putting on an inclusive fashion show which was put on in London last month. The agency also campaigns for a more inclusive and diverse attitude from fashion brands to help cater for those with disabilities.
If you’d like to find out more about Kerri Manning and the work she does, please search for kerri_audhd_model on Instagram.
