Roxanne Louise is modelling diversity

“If you don’t have the courage to shout, give me your words”; 19 year-old model Roxanne Louise Steel is on a mission to change the face (and body) of the media and tells Lara Masters how we can all help

Bournemouth bred Roxanne Louise who has cerebral palsy has just been signed to Sinclair Model Management who represent Britain’s Missing Top Model winner Kelly Knox. Roxanne Louise has also been made officer of their Models of Diversity campaign whose mission statement reads: “Our models convey that beauty comes in all colours, shapes and sizes and you too are entitled to ‘feel beautiful’ within your own skin – the word ‘beautiful’ should not be designated to the select few but to everyone.”

This is an empowering concept for all women but particularly those of us who’re disabled. If true diversity was embraced by the media it would dramatically improve many people’s self-esteem and quality of life and Roxanne Louise well knows how desperately change is needed.

“I use a wheelchair to stay mobile and get spasms in my lower limbs and hands. People treat me like I’m thick, I get sat on on the tube, I get asked if I can have sex by random strangers and it’s a NIGHTMARE buying shoes!”

I’ve experienced similar responses myself, especially strangers asking about sex, but now I wear red lipstick, something tight and a slight glower and only get asked intimate questions when invited. Roxanne Louise attributes her own image-epiphany to Gok Wan.

“I used to hate my body! I loved fashion – on everyone else! I was the girl in the tartan trousers three sizes too big and three inches too long teamed with a guy’s T-shirt held up by braces, big black eyes and the lines down my face to match (cringe). I was always the rebel at school! I realise now I wanted people to stare at me and not the wheelchair. Then I started watching Gok and started pulling at the excess fabric to discover a waist and pretty nice cleavage. Gok restored my confidence and love for clothing and helped me feel sexy – now you try and get me outta River Island!”

Roxanne Louise has her sights set on being the face of a high-street brand like River Island but has had to jump a few hurdles and get out of her own way to begin to realise her ambitions.

“My mum couldn’t cope with my disability so she abandoned me. I was looked after by my Dad and went to a special school from two and a half until the age of sixteen. I excelled in sport and did a BTEC at Brockenhurst, a mainstream college. In hindsight, I should have taken art so I could have gone on to do fashion but didn’t want the carer I would have needed for fear of looking cripple-like.”

Post-college, housing problems found Roxanne Louise living in an old people’s home rather prematurely but now she’s happily settled; “I have my own flat, a perfectish boyfriend and a rabbit.

I’m looking for a job to go alongside the Models of Diversity campaign and want to study fashion so I can be a personal dresser/fashion journalist as well as a model!”

I’m guilty of being jaded by years of hearing the media, fashion and advertising industries pay lip-service to being more inclusive and doing nothing about it, but discovering a model agency which prioritises diversity has re-ignited my hope that shifts are actually possible – especially with the effusive and motivated Miss Steel as ambassador.

“With the Models of Diversity campaign I want to get real people into our media, to promote being healthy as beautiful to stop girls from starving themselves, and to stop people being scared of disability.

“The media is by the people for the people! I urge Disability Now readers to write to magazines and say you want to see bigger models, shorter models. When you’re shopping, tell staff their pictures aren’t of real people and that puts you off buying – then give them our details! Your comments could make a huge difference and may even save your future granddaughter’s life!“

It’s hard not to be infected by Roxanne Louise’s insightful enthusiasm and brilliant, guru-like slogan-ism; “We are real, so why should we accept any imitation? Request Reality, Demand Diversity!”

And of course Roxanne Louise is absolutely right; it’s up to us all – it takes a village – or perhaps a Facebook group!? Join “Models of Diversity” on FB today and let’s be the change we want in the world!