Jillian Mercado is a physically disabled Latinx model, actress, and advocate for inclusivity and greater representation of marginalized communities in fashion and entertainment.
A native New Yorker born to Dominican parents, Mercado was first diagnosed with spastic muscular dystrophy as a child and has been wheelchair-bound for most of her life. Despite her disability, she has become one of the most prominent voices in the fashion and entertainment industries, advocating for equality and more opportunities for people with disabilities and from marginalized groups.
During her studies at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, she completed internships at Veranda and Allure magazine and was subsequently discovered by denim brand Diesel, where she did her first campaign. Following the success of this shoot, she was signed to IMG and later to CAA Fashion.
Fronting campaigns for the likes of Nordstrom, Target, and Olay, Mercado has become a popular cultural icon in fashion and an inspiration to many thanks to her advocacy and inspiring message. She has been featured in the likes of Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, InStyle, Refinery29, Forbes, and other industry-leading publications. In a recent interview with Bustle, she highlighted the intersection of gender and disability and advocated for greater representation in the industry.
Some of her most notable projects include fronting a campaign for Beyoncé's new single and World Formation tour and working with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to reduce inequality as one of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Mercado is also the co-founder of Black Disabled Creatives, a platform that highlights and promotes individuals with creative talent from marginalized communities.
She most recently appeared in the popular Showtime series The L Word: Generation Q, playing the role of Maribel Suarez alongside Jennifer Beals.
