Disabled Model Spoofs American Apparel

The "spoof" ad photographed by Holly Norris, featuring model Jes Sachse

This is so awesome!

Holly Norris (a Canadian!) has created a project called "American Able" where she uses a disabled model to spoof American Apparel ads.

Here is a little bit about the project (taken from Holly's website):

'American Able' intends to, through spoof, reveal the ways in which women with disabilities are invisibilized in advertising and mass media. I chose American Apparel not just for their notable style, but also for their claims that many of their models are just ‘every day’ women who are employees, friends and fans of the company. However, these women fit particular body types. Their campaigns are highly sexualized and feature women who are generally thin, and who appear to be able-bodied. Women with disabilities go unrepresented, not only in American Apparel advertising, but also in most of popular culture. Rarely, if ever, are women with disabilities portrayed in anything other than an asexual manner, for ‘disabled’ bodies are largely perceived as ‘undesirable.’ In a society where sexuality is created and performed over and over within popular culture, the invisibility of women with disabilities in many ways denies them the right to sexuality, particularly within a public context.

The original "Pantytime" ad by American Apparel