We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica Kirkwood a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Honestly, I’ve always knew that I wanted to do something creative with my life from a very young age I just knew I was unique and a “regular’ 9-5 and lifestyle wasn’t the avenue for me. I remember once when I was in kindergarten and being asked what I wanted to be when I grew up and I remember saying ‘I want to be a famous Fashion designer and design clothes for all the important people in the world. I’ve always had a love for fashion and all things beauty and I wanted to make others beautiful too. That’s what I thought I would be doing . I’ve always knew in my heart that modeling was my true passion but I never spoke on it because it was something I never thought would really happen. I was born with a physical disability called “Cerebral Palsy” and use a wheelchair full time. Also growing up I was very self-conscience about my looks. I was about 16 years old and I remember telling my father after high school I was going to go to college and work towards a modeling career. It wasn’t exactly what my father wanted for me but he did tell me don’t ever let my disability stop me and work towards my dreams and it’ll all work out.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Things began for me in my early college days. I happen to be attending southern Illinois University-Carbondale and there was a modeling group on campus called Vanity and I decided to audition i did and I made the team. Through this people noticed me on campus and would mention how I was an inspiration and some happen to be photographers that wanted to work with me. Also this helped to develop my social media as well and people would message me saying how they would like to work with me and things developed from there. I’m very unique I’m not a typical model. i was born with a physical condition called Cerebral Palsy and I’m a full time wheelchair user. I do believe one day I’m going to walk.

I still say and probably always say my proudest moment was my first time getting published and being apart of my first fashion viewing. It was a local event but I was so happy to be apart and it made me see that I can really have a future in modeling.

It’s crazy I have so many goals and things I want to experience for myself while inspiring others. My ultimate goal is to one day be on the runways of New York Fashion Week and grace the covers of Vogue and Sports Illustrated that would be a dream come true for me.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative in your experience?

I love being able to share my story with others while also inspiring others in a positive way and being so happy doing what I love.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I would have to say in general a big part of the reason that I wanted to model was to bring more light and shine the disability community. I want to help the community in anyway possible. Growing up looking through magazines I never saw anyone who looked like me and I felt that needed to change and I want to be that change. They support me so much and show me so much love I feel it my duty to lift up my community.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Foreverjessica_xoxo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.kirkwood.16/
• Twitter: Im_4everblessed

Image Credits
Chas Richardson