Sinéad Burke is already slaying as contributing editor for British Vogue

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Sinéad Burke is taking the fashion world by storm, and she's starting with her new role as contributing editor for British Vogue.

What an absolute queen!

The Irish activist rapidly rose to fame after her award-winning Ted Talk: ‘Why design should include everyone’.

Sinéad aims to make a difference in the fashion industry and has been an avid advocate for the world of design to include all types of people.

In her talk, the speaker demanded that the industry expand its narrowed target market and design clothes with and for disabled people.

It seems Vogue agreed, and now, as contributing editor she is already started the movement to make this happen.

Sinéad’s first column for the magazine is titled ‘Why I Chose To Embrace My Differences’. In her piece, she reflects on her experience as a physically disabled teacher.

She loved that children asked her questions about herself that the adults never would, and she took the opportunity to rewire their thought processes.

 

Creative chaos. On Saturday, I facilitated workshops in @airbnb’s HQ with children from all over Dublin as we discussed and created the places where they love to play. It was a collaboration with #MyCruinniu and Dublin Culture Connects – an organisation that reaches out into the community and listens to their voices, expertise and lived experiences to shape the city we love. It was an incredible day and getting to spend hours learning from children about what they want and need is such a genuine privilege. . . Thank you to Aalia, Rowena and Shauna who were absolutely superb in enriching the conversations and ensuring too many dinosaur treats were not consumed. . . [Image description: Across five photographs, children create the places and objects that inspire them to play. There were football pitches, MMA stadiums, the beach and an array of hats that would make Philip Treacy envious.] . .

“When they asked me: ‘Why are you so small?’, I answered, ‘Why are you so big?’. Confusion meandered across their faces, they’d […] respond with […]: ‘I don’t know, I was born like this’.

“This simplistic explanation of genetics sat comfortably with young children and from that moment, I was their teacher.”

Sinéad goes on to discuss how although she loves being little now, she considered undergoing a painful, limb-lengthening procedure when she was just 11-years-old.

But after a discussion with family and friends she realised that she “was attempting to make [her] differences more palatable” and refused the surgery.

 

I’m very, very proud to be a new Contributing Editor to @britishvogue. Thank you so much to @edward_enninful for his extraordinary leadership and to @gileshattersley and @alcaselyhayford for taking a chance on me. My first piece (which is online now) is about my body, disability and our response to difference. . . “We are embarrassed by what we do not know, and we are often aggressive towards anyone who reminds us of our ignorance, or is different to us. Yet, from children’s innocent inquisitiveness we could learn to cultivate an empathy and respect for otherness.” . . [Image description: Sitting and wearing a rather fantastic @burberry blouse – it has a polka dot collar, pussy-bow and cuffs, whilst the remainder is vertical stripes, I’m posing with one hand on my hip and the other on my lap. I’m smiling and my bob is suspiciously like that of another Vogue team-member…. this photo was taken at @scaddotedu.]

A post shared by Sinéad Burke (@thesineadburke) on

In her article’s conclusion, she reminded us “that no one is 'normal'. Life is complex, challenging and full of difference.”

We are absolutely ecstatic the Sinéad has taken on this new role as a contributing editor for British Vogue.

The Irish speaker has come a long way from Meath, and we have no doubt that she will go even farther in this world. 

Sinéad is a complete boss and we can't wait to see what she does next!

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