Twelve-year-old models on Bristol billboard
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Carmela Chillery-Watson, a 12-year-old from Wiltshire, England, received a surprise billboard featuring her image after advocating for disability representation in fashion.
Carmela lives with LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy, a condition causing progressive muscle weakness. The Bristol Fashion Show, a volunteer group promoting inclusivity, organised the billboard as a tribute to Carmela’s long involvement with their events, beginning when she was five years old.
Carmela has previously raised funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK and Julia’s House Hospice, often while dressed as a superhero. She received a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in December, becoming the youngest recipient ever. Her mother, Lucy, explained that Carmela faced rejection from traditional modelling agencies, inspiring her to seek out opportunities with the Bristol Fashion Show.
This year, the Bristol Fashion Show is challenging designers to create outfits for models with both visible and hidden disabilities. Organisers hope to create more normalised representation in the fashion industry, including the use of wheelchairs, walkers, and walking sticks on catwalks. The show will be held on November 1st and will raise money for Cure4Carmela, a fundraising initiative supporting Muscular Dystrophy UK.
