Mercado, a prominent representative of the new breed of models that are challenging beauty ideals in the world of fashion, was born and raised in New York. She was diagnosed with spastic muscular dystrophy as a child and is one of the few working professional disabled models.
Just six years ago, when Mercado was in her senior year studying fashion marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, disabled models were scarce. When she thought about becoming a professional model, Mercado decided to seek out a mentor and find someone who had a physical disability like her. Her search was unsuccessful.
Everything changed in 2014 when Jillian Mercado went to an open casting call for Diesel Jeans. The questionnaire she filled out at the casting call asked “Why should we choose you?” Julian responded, “Because I want to change the world.” Her quest to become a model became a reality when she was selected by Diesel’s artistic director, Nicola Formichetti to be part of the ad campaign. The campaign for Diesel launched her career and landed her a modelling contract with IMG, the powerhouse that represents top supermodels such as Gisele Bündchen, Kate Moss and Heidi Klum. Since then, her marketing campaign for Target debuted during Telemundo’s Billboard Latin Music Awards, just weeks after she was cast in the merchandise ads for Beyonce’s highly-anticipated “Formation” tour. Last year, Mercado modelled on a Manhattan rooftop for lingerie company, Thistle & Spire.
New York Festivals created the Torch Awards as an expression of its ongoing commitment to the development and promotion of young creative talent. The competition offers a unique challenge for 18-27 year olds to promote the mission of an international non-profit organisation, while allowing them to develop critical industry skills to help them elevate their careers.
