'All disabled bodies are beautiful'

An artist and disability advocate is reminding people "all disabled bodies are beautiful" ahead of her catwalk debut.

Josie Tang, from Penryn, is taking part in the Disability Pride Catwalk in Manchester alongside 16 others, wearing adaptive fashion designs from disability friendly clothes label Recondition.

The 21 year old is autistic, has ADHD and multiple chronic illnesses including endometriosis, hypermobile EDS and PoTS.

Tang, who recently completed her degree in fashion styling and artistic direction from Falmouth University, said she signed up to the event because seeing herself "in mainstream fashion... really shows you that you're allowed to belong".

Tang said: "Even just seeing a different range of different disabled people - we come in so many different shapes and forms and we come with so many different experiences.

"We see such a standard runway figure a lot of the time and I think that sort of pushes this idea that only this type of body can be beautiful.

"For this to platform such a wide range of different bodies, and just to celebrate that, I think that's really huge and really shows that - you know what - all disabled bodies are beautiful."

Tang said having adaptive clothing represented on the runway but also in mainstream life was important.

"I think with some of my conditions it can make dressing and undressing quite difficult and things like little buttons and getting things over my shoulders sometimes I really struggle with.

"Adaptive clothing is really, really helpful in that sort of sense where there might be little pull tabs to help you put things on, or velcro and magnets that make things a bit easier.

"I don't want to compromise on style for adaptability and things that make my life a little bit easier, I still want to really have fun with my style and fashion."

Tang said she hoped future designers would create lines for disabled people "with disabled people".

She said: "You can't really have something for someone without their input and their experience - that feedback is so so important.

"I think seeing something that reflects such a like a wider range of personal styles as well as adaptability would be something really cool."

The Disability Pride Catwalk is set to take place at Manchester's Aviva Studios later on Saturday.

Tang said she wished an event like this had been around when she was younger: "That would have made my journey with accepting my disabled body so much easier.

"Being able to see a beautiful disabled body just accepted and celebrated in this way would have been so helpful in my journey, and understanding that I'm allowed to be beautiful in whatever way that is."

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