Lebohang Monyatsi, who plays Rosie on the soapie ‘Generations: The Legacy,’ is the first South African woman in a wheelchair to walking the runway.

In an interview with Eyewitness News, Lebohang “Rolling Goddess” Monyatsi discussed her experiences as a runway and fashion model, as well as access to such spaces for disabled people.

Monyatsi represented South Africa in the Miss Wheelchair World pageant in 2017, where she was named first princess.

The pageant was held for the first time in Warsaw, Poland, and featured 24 young women from 19 countries.

Rolling Goddess, as she’s known on social media platforms, had always wanted to be a model, but there was no one she could identify with on the runways, and there were no opportunities in the industry for people in wheelchairs.

“I have always loved modelling from a young age but I couldn’t pursue it because of a lack of opportunities for people with disabilities. As we all know, the media impacts society and there’s no one who looks like me in the media industry to serve as an inspiration to those who live with disabilities. I decided to embark on this journey so I can be a role model to everyone who thought it is not possible.”

Godfrey Mphatswe, who was chosen as one of Mr. SA’s top 50 contestants in 2016, asked the former national wheelchair basketball player to do a social project for the pageant that was inclusive of different people in South Africa.

“One of Godfrey Mphatswe’s duties as a finalist was to organise a social event, so he decided to plan an inclusive fashion show. He and his personal assistant reached out to me to ask if I would be interested. When this opportunity came, I did not waste any time, I went and participated and people loved it. It boosted my self-confidence and I just had momentum from there, I really loved it,” said a beaming Monyatsi.

In 2018, she collaborated with Basetsana Khumalo on a Woolworths modelling campaign.

“I am the co-founder of Miss Wheelchair South Africa. The main objective of it is to break the stereotype associated with persons with disabilities, to change the mindsets, change the narratives and give opportunities to women with disabilities to impact change however they see fit, to be the change that they wish to see in the world,” said Monyatsi.

The rise of disabled models has transformed the fashion industry. When one thinks back a few years, the group lacked media representation, despite the fact that disability is a part of human diversity; in fact, an estimated one billion people, or around 15% of the global population, have some form of disability.

People with disabilities are the world’s largest minority group, and they are also the only group that anyone can potentially join at any point in their lives.

“I was diagnosed with Post Polio when I was 3 years old. It affected my left leg, which resulted in it being smaller and thinner than my right one,” said Monyatsi, who is dependent on a wheelchair for mobility.

The inclusion of disabled bodies in fashion and beauty is a step in the right direction, but the industry still appears to have a long way to go.

“The challenges that I got or I still get as a model with a disability is getting jobs. Agencies believe that the production managers or the producers have to specify that they need someone with a disability, meaning that they cannot just send me to audition with others. I have to wait for a specific call, that’s so disadvantaging. I wish they can look at it in a different way. I wish for it to change.”

The industry has been quick to respond to calls from some minority communities, but people with disabilities have been left behind, and in some cases, excluded entirely.

“Most people hold a perception that access to a building means being able to enter into that building only, how that building is inside, they don’t even consider it. You find that when you get into a building, there is a ramp that gives you access to the building but when you get inside, you find it hard to manoeuvre. The toilets are small or they’re usually upstairs. That can be exhausting.”

REPRESENTATION MATTERS

We create this image of beauty as children based on what society deems beautiful, but what happens when the image of beauty and desirability never looks like you?

“I believe the achievements of disabled people are not entirely recognised. We are only recognised during the month of disability or albinism months and that’s not fair because we work twice as hard as the non-disabled in order to be seen.

“In order for that to change, persons with disabilities need to be equally recognised as the non-disabled. For example, if it’s Women’s Month and you recognised Zozibini Tunzi (former Miss SA) for her excellent work, you need to also acknowledge Tamelyn Bock (current Miss Wheelchair SA) or Kgothatso ‘KG’ Monjane (wheelchair tennis ace) for their excellent work as well, do not wait for disability month in order to do that.”

Internationally, pioneers have broken down barriers for the disability community, increasing visibility and opportunities for aspiring disabled models.

To name a few, Jillian Mercado, Mama Cax, and Alexandra Kutas broke down barriers for their community.

Cax was seen at New York Fashion Week in 2018 and in Chromat’s Spring/Summer 2019 runway show, which celebrated body diversity. Mercado starred in her first Diesel campaign in 2014, which landed her a contract with IMG Models in 2015. At India’s runway week in 2017, Kutas became the first runway model in a wheelchair.

People with disabilities are increasingly appearing on the runway, on magazine covers, in fashion advertisements, and in beauty campaigns around the world. It may not be as large in Africa, but Monyatsi stated that small steps are preferable to none at all.

“I believe that we are already getting somewhere, although it is going to take a very long time to get people to accept that persons with disabilities can also model. Rome was not built in a day, so if we can work together to change the narrative, to assist other people with similar aspirations and transfer knowledge to the young generation, then Africa will have space for models with different abilities and it will also be a norm.”

Main Image: Rolling Goddess, News24