Jillian Mercado

Jillian Mercado (born April 30, 1987) is an American actress and fashion model represented by CAA Fashion. Known for challenging beauty ideals, Mercado is one of the few professional models in the fashion industry with a visible physical disability. Born and raised in New York, NY, she is of Dominican ancestry. Diagnosed with spastic muscular dystrophy as a child, Mercado's interest in fashion stemmed from her parents. She attended New York's Fashion Institute of Technology from 2006 to 2010, completing internships at Veranda and Allure magazine. Mercado has been a volunteer at Fashion Week for several years.