My name is: Alexandra Ayaub (but most people call me “Alex”).

I’m known for being: A fashion-loving disability advocate—with a slightly self-deprecating sense of humor.

I'm talking about: Accessibility in fashion, and why it's something everyone should care about.

You can find me at: On my live show on Newness every Thursday night, newness.com/alex.

Before I began talking about these issues, I was: Feeling like there was no room for me in the fashion industry. As a fashion lover, I felt, because of my disability, I was always on the outside. I loved fashion, but it didn't always love me back.

What inspired me to start this was: I started talking about my disability on my Instagram and realized how many people were going through the same things, feeling the same way. I wanted to form a safe, inclusive space for people with visible and invisible disabilities who deserve to feel like they belong anywhere, and in any industry. For so many years I felt like I had to hide it; it's been incredibly freeing to find this community.

My approach is: I aim to be as open and transparent as I can be about my disability, the realities of it, the struggles and the successes. Because my disability is mostly invisible, I think my story (and so many others I get to share) challenges people to look at what it means to be disabled. It's not always something you can see; it doesn’t fit inside a stigma or concept. 

What makes it special is: The amount of people who also have an invisible disability, who have reached out to share their own struggles and triumphs, especially those who also have a career or interest in fashion. It is so special to form a community around people who have long felt unseen. A large part of fashion relies on exclusivity. I'm here to show that fashion can be for everyone, if we ask it to be.

One thing you can’t miss is: My weekly live show on Newness, which covers everything from fashion styling, to beauty tutorials, to discussions around accessibility.

My favorite secret detail is: Sharing your truth resonates with more people than you think, not just the people who can relate. That empathy will move the world. It will make it better for all.

For me, what it means to be a woman warrior is: To accept yourself for who you are, right now. Not waiting to look or be a certain way before you show up unapologetically and live your life. It is an act of bravery to accept yourself, and share that person with the world.

It’s important to make an impact because: If we only care about what affects us, we will never make change. Great things are possible when we dare to care and turn that empathy into action.

This can help us live our process because: Everybody wants to feel like they belong—especially to the things they love. We have the resources and platforms to make this a more inclusive and accessible world for all. It's on all of us.