This Woman Was Born With Spastic Quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy—and Now She’s a Full-Time Model

Janira Obregon is smashing beauty standards.

By Christina Oehler Updated March 05, 2020

Health’s series This Is Me is about owning who you are and defying ridiculous societal expectations of beauty. We’re not here to meet your standards, we’re here to break them. Show us how beautiful you are! Tag us on Instagram: @healthmagazine  #ThisIsMe 

Janira Obregon has spent her entire life proving that just because she uses a wheelchair, her drive to reach her goals and dreams shouldn’t be underestimated.

The 23-year-old from New York has spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, which means she has difficulty using all four of her limbs. The condition might sound like a setback. But Obregon has succeeded at pretty much everything she’s set her sights on, including modeling—she’s now a model at the We Speak Model Management. Here, she talks to Health about her journey so far.

At six months old, Obregon was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, after her mother noticed she wasn’t developing the way other babies her age were supposed to. Relying on a wheelchair for mobility, she attended a school for children with special needs until high school, when she decided to switch to a public high school.

janira-obregon

“When I got to high school, I went to a local high school because I wanted to get my diploma like any regular student,” says Obregon. “So I kind of had to work harder and go the extra mile to get my high school diploma. And despite everything, I graduated in the top four of my class.”

After getting the accommodations she needed in college, she excelled in all her classes and even made the National Honor Society. But one of her proudest moments came when she realized the difference she could make by changing the perception of disabled people.

“I had a teacher in one of my classes who apologized at the end of one of the semesters because he said he underestimated me and didn’t know how much a person with disabilities could succeed the way I did,” she says. “With his apology, it really made me realize that I could change someone’s thoughts and views on people with disabilities.”

With that, Obregon began looking for ways represent others with disabilities—and the perfect opportunity found her. In 2017, an agency called Runway of Dreams reached out ot her about doing a photo shoot. The organization advocates for people with disabilities in the fashion industry, and Obregon was excited about the opportunity to get involved.

janira-obregon-1

After her shoot, the organization reached out again and asked her about participating in their New York Fashion Week show in September 2018. Obregon landed a spot on Nike’s runway, modeling their adaptive clothing line. This was her first time on the runway, and it set her on the model track she’s on today.

“Growing up, I never saw other kids like me in such events, or movies, magazines, etc,” she says. “I’m glad I get to be a model, to show that people with disabilities can do anything we set our minds to.”

Obregon currently works with We Speak Model Management, an agency that represents models of all sizes, shapes, and backgrounds. Her current goal is to continue to grow in the modeling industry and encourage people to accept different types of beauty.

“When someone sees a model who looks like them, they’re not just seeing a model, they’re seeing a part of themselves,” says Obregon. “They see possibilities for their future in a world that’s saying yes, we want you here. You are wanted. Representation is important. And it’s why modeling is so essential to me.”

To get more stories like this delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Real Wellness WomenIRL newsletter

Note: This article have been indexed to our site. We do not claim legitimacy, ownership or copyright of any of the content above. To see the article at original source Click Here

Related Posts
The Sleeker And Peppier 2022 Audi Q7 Is Here thumbnail

The Sleeker And Peppier 2022 Audi Q7 Is Here

Audi India has finally brought the facelifted Q7 to our shores. The premium SUV gets a series of subtle changes and is available as a petrol-only variant. It’ll retail in two variants: Premium Plus (Rs 79.99 lakh) and Technology (Rs 88.33 lakh). (All prices ex-showroom) After being off the shelf for two whole years, for…
Read More
Seasonal emotional cycles thumbnail

Seasonal emotional cycles

Nuestras emociones están vivas, por eso cambian. De hecho, todo cambia. Y nuestras emociones se adaptan a los ciclos estacionales que nos rodean. Por eso, es habitual no sentirnos igual en verano que en invierno, aunque eso depende en gran medida de la persona y de sus gustos en cuanto a temperatura. Hoy quiero que…
Read More
5 Sarah Azhari-style Beach Outfits that Are More Sexy Living in America thumbnail

5 Sarah Azhari-style Beach Outfits that Are More Sexy Living in America

OUTFIT ke pantai ala Sarah Azhari, pernah terpikir untuk mencoba menirunya? Ya, Sarah Azhari memang dikenal menyukai penampilan dengan padupadan outfit seksi yang juga cocok untuk dijadikan sebagai referensi ketika Anda ingin ke pantai. Sarah Azhari kini telah tinggal di Los Angeles, Amerika Serikat. Gaya penampilannya semakin seksi, termasuk saat jalan-jalan ke pantai.  Nah, bagi…
Read More
A 20-Minute Core Workout for Stronger Obliques thumbnail

A 20-Minute Core Workout for Stronger Obliques

Reminder: Your core is more than just your “six-pack abs.” Your core includes everything from your deep abdominal wall and lower back to your hips, glutes, and pelvic floor. Another important, yet often underrated, part of your core? Your internal and external obliques—the muscles on the sides of your abdomen that drive core rotation.If you've…
Read More
Index Of News
Consider making some contribution to keep us going. We are donation based team who works to bring the best content to the readers. Every donation matters.
Donate Now

Subscription Form

Liking our Index Of News so far? Would you like to subscribe to receive news updates daily?

Total
0
Share