Melissa Blake was born with Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that’s required over 26 surgeries. For much of her life, she felt different—and often unseen. But over time, Melissa found her voice, her confidence, and her power.

Now a writer, disability activist, and proud model, Melissa has become a symbol of self-acceptance and representation. With over 200,000 followers cheering her on, she shares her life openly—reminding others that beauty comes in every form.

She’s written for The New York Times, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and more, using her platform to talk about disability, identity, and pop culture. She’s also known for clapping back at online trolls—not with anger, but with more selfies.

Melissa’s boldness paid off in 2020 when she modeled at New York Fashion Week as part of the Runway for Dreams project, which celebrated disabled models from across the world. “With every selfie,” she said, “I felt more free. More seen.”

For Melissa, modeling wasn’t just a dream come true—it was a message to her younger self: You’re going to be okay. And you’re going to do amazing things.

If she had the world’s attention for 10 seconds, her message would be simple and powerful:
“Please listen to disabled people. Our voices and our stories matter.”

Melissa Blake is proof that when you embrace who you are, you don’t just break barriers—you help others find the courage to do the same.