We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erin Brooke Hila a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Erin Brooke, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
As a disabled person and ambulatory wheelchair user, I am misunderstood daily. The general public has not been exposed to young people using mobility aids or those with dynamic disabilities much. So, when they see me, a young woman, in a wheelchair, or standing up from said wheelchair, they stare at me, judge me, or simply think I am taking advantage. This could not be more backwards. There is nothing to “gain” by being disabled. The “perks” disabled people receive is to help them live their life as close to fully able-bodied as possible. They provide disabled people with equitable options to experience the same moment. For example, disabled people might sit in front of a large crowd and that might seem like a “perk,” but it really is because they might not be able to see at all when people stand up in front of them.
Similar situations like this happen to me constantly. I get messages on social media accusing me of not being authentically disabled or asking me why I am using a wheelchair in one picture and not in the next. I get tired of these messages even though some of them come from an innocent place. When met with kindness, I try my best to educate them. However, the rest of the messages I delete and move on with my life. I have learned that some people are just looking for fights. I can’t please everyone, and I will not waste my energy fighting someone who does not have an open mind to learning new things.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a seasoned model specializing in all things fashion. I am flexible and personable and have worked with several photographers and creative teams. Including my most recent cover pages on Lorius, Ovér, Redline, and Looplite, I have been featured in over 15 fashion magazines. In addition, I have done commercial modeling for an activewear company, iZZY, a jewelry company, PS Collections, and bridal and bathing suit companies coming up soon. I am a student at California State University San Marcos, and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Justice Studies in May 2025. I am a disabled person who sometimes uses a wheelchair or other mobility aid. I is not dependent on it, making me an excellent candidate for diversity and inclusion for any project requiring inclusive models.
I offer commercial modeling jobs for companies looking to promote their products. It could be virtually any product and style. I also offer TFP (trade for pictures) to photographers looking to update their portfolios. I have dabbled in runway modeling as well and recently got a callback for Hollywood Fashion week. Unfortunately, I turned the opportunity down due to mandatory fees, but I am open to similar chances. I travel to San Diego and Los Angeles and am based in North County, SD. Currently I am looking for brand/business deals or contracts, and an agency/management team.
My mission is to promote the intersectionality of disabilities and modeling. By showing my radiating confidence in myself and my body, every photo taken is a true step towards disability representation in the media. If you or someone you know are a business owner, experienced photographer, or agent, please feel free to reach out to me. I would love to work with you.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being a disability activist is when people reach out to me telling me how my activism has helped them feel seen, heard, and loved. Weather it has to do with my usual disability activism (outside modeling) or within photography, it touches my heart and keeps me going. Messages along the lines of, “as a neurodivergent person, I thank you for stepping up to show others that disabled people belong in the same atmospheres as able-bodied people,” or “I’m really grateful for you to make CSUSM a better place for people with disabilities, because I am usually the one that is the first to do something, but I am grateful I now have someone fighting for people like me.” Every time I see words of encouragement, (especially from another disabled person) I feel so empowered to continue my activism while merging it with modeling.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
If there is one thing I wish the public would learn from me, it is this: dynamic disabilities exist and those with them deserve to live their lives without questions or judgement. Someone’s health can change from day to day, hour to hour. Their abilities are none of your concern unless they willingly decide to share information or ask for help. So please, when you see a young person using aids, or when you notice a wheelchair user stand to reach something on the top shelf, remember that they might have a dynamic disability. They are not faking their condition, nor are they using aids for attention. My goal is to help others realize this through inclusivity in the modeling industry. We learn what we are exposed to. Through my efforts, the media will promote exposure of someone with a dynamic disability. The public will one day see society as a diverse mix of people, with no one set image, and be able to acknowledge someone for who they are, not what they are or aren’t capable of; and I am the catalyst.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/view/erinbrookehila/about
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erin_brooke145?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093019150076&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-brooke-hila-629887246
Image Credits
Cover Image: Francisco Dominguez (Instagram: @shutter_scape_studio)
Image 1: Glenn Miller (Instagram: @glennmkz)
Image 2: Greg Cruz (Instagram: @adventure_fitographer)
Image 3: Kishan Mistry (Instagram: @amateurportraitsbyk)
Image 4: Dan Bucko (Instagram: @danbuckophotography)
Image 5: self-taken image
Image 6: Sara Rose (Instagram: @the_pipsqueak)
Image 7: Jose Angel Solis (Instagram: @solis__15)
Image 8: taken by a friend with my phone