Often, women living with disabilities are portrayed as victims of their injuries or conditions. The Raw Beauty Project NYC has made it their mission to transform these stereotypes and redefine the perception of beauty. For a one-night-only event at ACA Galleries in NYC on Sept. 20 from 7-10 p.m., beautiful portraits of 20 women with disabilities – including multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and paralysis – taken by renowned photographers, will be unveiled.
The 20 women were captured by artists who photograph for top fashion magazines (Vogue, Vanity Fair, Allure, etc.) and major advertising campaigns (Diet Coke, Target, Mercedes and more) and are being celebrated for their courageous stories. One of the women, former fashion model Wendy Crawford, was part of the original Raw Beauty Miami exhibit in 2006. At 19 years old, Wendy was in a car accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury. Since her injury, Wendy has been an advocate for the need to evolve the definition of beauty. The other models, including actress Angela Rockwood and psychologist Danielle Shepypuk, are also disability advocates.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing care and discovering cures for the nearly six million Americans living with paralysis. Many of the Reeve Foundation’s programs serve the entire disability community through quality of life initiatives, advocacy and research. To purchase tickets to the event, visit www.ChristopherReeve.org/RawBeauty.
