Jillian Mercado, a fashion blogger who suffers from spastic muscular dystrophy, decided to answer an open call for models from Diesel and was taken aback by the reaction.
According to My Modern Met, Mercado sent the pictures in on a whim, not really expecting anything to come of it but was incredibly shocked when she heard from Diesel who said they were interested in having her in the campaign.
Diesel requested more images via email, with a note saying “We are kind of interested in having you in the campaign.”
Diesel felt like Jillian “fit in with the brand’s refreshing re-identification, which includes the following key elements: Freedom, creation, originality, and above all, bravery.”
Mercado now appears in an international campaign for Diesel alongside male model James Astronaut.
Images via Jillian Mercado Instagram.
