Pleasing Part 1 - Wheelchair User Representation

For me personally, a really annoying and hurtful example of ableism that I feel isn't talked about enough is the lack of wheelchair user representation in most beauty and fashion brands.

A specific brand on the top of my list is Pleasing (created and owned by Harry Styles).

Scrolling through most of Pleasing’s social medias (Twitter excluded) you’ll see a few limited photos and videos (see end of article) of different physical differences, but no wheelchair users.

They have photos and videos that could have included wheelchair users. For example, they have photos and videos of people modeling clothes. Wheelchair users can do that. And yet, nothing. There are wheelchair users who currently do model you [Pleasing] could contact. There are wheelchair users (myself included) who don’t currently model but would love to be asked you could contact.

There is no excuse for excluding us. It wouldn’t be a financial burden; there are people who are able and who want to be asked; you have to purposely not look for us to not find us. We deserve authentic representation now - not some “promise” of representation in the future.

The constant and explicit exclusion of us is quite hurtful. It personally makes me feel like you are saying your products are not for wheelchair users. That we don’t belong. Constantly pushing us to the side shows others that it’s okay to ignore us. That you’re okay ignoring us.

I’ve dealt with being excluded for 20 years and I refuse to do it anymore. Making your brand solely able-bodied honestly shows where your priorities are. And it’s not okay.

(Alt text for videos is written below each video)

Alt text: A compilation of people getting their nails painted. Only the hands painting and being painted are shown. The person with vitiligo's hands are 3rd out of 4th. The color difference between hands and arms are not shown.

Alt text: The person with vitiligo's nails being painted. Color difference between hand and arm is shown at the very end.