«They mocked her when she posted her photos, dreaming of becoming famous!😱 What does she look now?»😮

Melissa Blake’s story is an inspiration for self-acceptance and resilience. She battled self-consciousness at first due to her Freeman-Sheldon syndrome birth, but she finally came to appreciate her special beauty. In addition to being a model, she is now a strong supporter of disability rights, having amassed over 200,000 social media followers who value her bravery and genuineness.
Melissa was born in 1981, and because of her illness, she has had over 26 operations. Her parents, who taught her that her impairment does not define her, are largely responsible for her strength.

Melissa is a self-employed writer and disability activist whose work touches on a wide range of subjects, such as pop culture, relationships, and disabilities. Along with her blog, her work has appeared in respected magazines and newspapers such as The New York Times, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and ELLE.

Melissa faced difficulties on her path to self-acceptance. She persisted in the face of rejection and criticism, especially about her desire to become a model.
She fearlessly posted selfies on social media, reclaiming her story and uplifting people with disabilities in the process, defying trolls and social conventions. Mindy Scheier, the founder of Runway for Dreams, was impressed by Melissa’s humor and tenacity and extended an invitation for her to take part in New York Fashion Week in 2020.

Melissa wants to question beauty standards and raise the voices of disadvantaged people who are frequently disregarded by society through her activism and exposure.
Her involvement in Runway for Dreams inspired others to embrace their individuality and brought attention to the significance of disability representation in the fashion industry.