Naomi Campbell
Photo credit: WENN.com
Naomi Campbell is one of the most successful British supermodels of all time and is still working as a model, actress, philanthropist and entrepreneur 29 years after she was scouted at the age of 15. Among her many impressive achievements, she was the first black model on the cover of French Vogue.
Shannon Murray
Photo credit: radiotimes.com
Shannon Murray was the first disabled model to feature in a high street campaign for Debenhams’ Principles range in 2010. An accident as a teenager left her paralysed but this only inspired her to achieve more. She is also an actress, presenter and lawyer and won the Model in a Million competition for disabled models.
Katie Piper
Photo credit: Rocky/WENN.com
Thanks to her Channel 4 documentary Katie: My Beautiful Face, Katie Piper is famous for overcoming adversity and finding a way to feel beautiful again after a horrible incident. The burns victim continues to pursue her desired career as a model and media personality and she now runs the Katie Piper Foundation.
More: Channel 4 also features disabled lonely hearts in the TV show Undateables
Hammasa Kohistani
Photo credit: Vince Maher/WENN.com
Hammasa Kohistani opened doors for ethnic minority women in beauty pageants when she was the first Asian woman to be crowned Miss England in 2005. She was also the first Muslim to receive the title. She went on to represent England at the Miss World competition and has since appeared in magazines such as Teen Vogue.
Chloe Marshall
Photo credit: Vince Maher/WENN.com
In 2008 Chloe Marshall was the first plus size model to take part in the Miss England finals, having been chosen as Miss Surrey earlier that year. The pretty size 16 model was accused of promoting obesity but said she wanted “to break the stereotype that you have to be tall and skinny to be considered beautiful."
Lorraine Pascale
Photo credit: WENN.com
Lorraine Pascale is now best known as a TV chef and cookery book author but she originally got into the entertainment industry as a groundbreaking model. She was the first British black model to appear on the cover of Elle U.S. She also appeared in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and Robbie Williams' "Millennium" video.
Bishamber Das
Photo credit: twitter.com
Bishamber Das brought diversity to the Miss India Europe beauty pageant in 2014 when she was chosen as the first plus size model to represent the U.K. At the finals in Barcelona she was the second runner-up and won the title of Miss Photogenic. Bishamber is not just pretty but smart too — she became a magistrate at the age of 22.
Neelam Johal
Photo credit: models1blog.com
In 2013 Neelam Johal became the first British Asian model to star in a campaign for the legendary British fashion brand Burberry. Not only that but it was her first ever campaign and it was shot by one of the world’s most famous photographers, Mario Testino. Neelam is signed to prestigious agency Models 1.
Kelly Knox
Photo credit: Lia Toby/WENN.com
Kelly Knox is a disabled model who won Britain’s Missing Top Model TV series on BBC3 in 2008. The programme was designed to highlight the beautiful disabled women who don't have a presence in contests such as Britain's Next Top Model. Kelly has appeared in British Vogue and Marie Claire and acts in Channel 4’s I'm Spazticus.
Jack Eyers
Photo credit: http://detaykibris.com/
It's not just female models who are breaking boundaries in the fashion industry. Only this week Jack Eyers became the first disabled man to model at New York Fashion Week. Jack, 25, whose leg was amputated due to a growth deficiency, walked in the catwalk show for designer Antonio Urzi alongside other disabled models.
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