Meet the TikToker Disrupting Narratives Around Disabilities

She's changing the world, one post at a time.

Apr 15, 2022 - 07:00

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Meet the TikToker Disrupting Narratives Around Disabilities

Like it or not, fashion has a long-standing history of being exclusive. I’m not talking about expensive designer clothing (though, access to affordable, sustainable clothing is a whole different issue), but rather, representation in the industry. Only in the past few years have we seen massive strides toward inclusivity—from Black leaders revolutionizing how talent is hired to the launch of more size-inclusive labels. But possibly the greatest purveyor of change has been social media. As an editor, I can’t lie and say I don’t see social media as a force of good and evil. In fact, I cringe every time I see a TikTok where someone has spent an egregious amount of money on a fast-fashion haul only to ditch the pieces a month later. (It will never sit right with my soul.) But a subset of fashion influencers are using their platforms for good, and April Lockhart happens to be one of them.

Lockhart isn’t another Instagram or TikTok star—far from it. The first time I stumbled upon the Nashville-based lifestyle creator and clean-beauty expert’s profile, I wasn’t drawn to her because of her colorful ensembles (though, that helps) or even her devout love for the Who What Wear Collection. Instead, her video series entitled Normalizing Disabled Fashun Girlies is what hooked me. You see, ableism is a rampant part of society despite the fact that over 61 million adults in the United States live with a disability. Ableism convinces us that this community is on the “margins” and that we could never develop disabilities later in life, be prone to accidents, or even know someone struggling with their mental health. And this ideology seeps into every part of our culture, including the fashion industry.

In fashion, it’s still rare for a collection campaign to feature models with disabilities, and it’s far less common for a fashion brand to include adaptive pieces in their collections that work for individuals with sensory issues, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities that make dressing a challenge every day. So it’s pretty groundbreaking within that lens to look at all the work Lockhart is doing. She’s not only using her platform to destigmatize disabilities, but she’s also having fun while doing it. You can understand, then, why we had to interview her. Ahead, you’ll hear from her about everything from why she started posting on TikTok to which spring trends she’s most excited about. Her work is a vital reminder that changing the narrative can be done one post at a time.

Can you tell us how you broke into the fashion industry? In some way, I’ve always been invested in fashion. In my early teens, I had a fashion blog (very grunge and a little cringe-worthy) and loved documenting my outfits. I decided to go to FIT and interned at a few different fashion and beauty brands throughout school. It’s not groundbreaking, but interning is my biggest piece of advice! Work hard and make good connections. Your work ethic will speak for you, and your next job often comes from word of mouth. Now, I work full-time in the beauty industry in influencer marketing at Ilia Beauty while creating content on the side. How would you describe your personal style? I love a theme—it’s hard to describe my style because I love changing it up. I love to look chic in a neutral, sophisticated way.

You’ve become a TikTok sensation for your fun fashion videos. Can you tell us what inspired you to start posting on the platform? My Instagram content was starting to feel so stale to me. I had a moment where I felt like everyone (myself included) was just trying to do the same thing—the same shots, the same edits—and it wasn’t resonating with me. Then, I realized, Aren’t we, as creators, supposed to offer something unique or authentic? TikTok felt like a fresh start with less pressure and was a place I could create more unfiltered content.

You’ve become famous for your video series entitled Normalizing Disabled Fashun Girlies in Your Feed—can you tell us what inspired you to start the series? Why is it important, in your eyes, to use your platform to dismantle preconceived notions around disabilities? When I started to rethink what kind of content I wanted to put out, I did a lot of internal reflection on how I wanted to use my platform. I never wanted my disability (which is a limb difference) to be the one thing I was known for, but obviously, it informed who I was. I’d been creating content for years, on and off, subtly showing my arm but still battling a lot of insecurity around it. As I thought more about it, I didn’t have anyone in the fashion or beauty space I felt represented by. So I decided to get out of my comfort zone and take up that space. Normalizing Disabled Fashun Girlies felt like it was brewing in my mind for a long time, and it’s been so much fun to work on.

You never shy away from a more trend-forward piece. What’s the styling rule you swear by when wearing bold pieces? I’ve started to follow fewer rules, which I think was inspired by TikTok fashion. Sometimes, I like to balance bold with more neutral colors, but sometimes, I just lean into it. Color-blocking is really big in my wardrobe right now. It makes bold colors feel less scary.

I also can’t tell you enough not to be afraid to mix patterns or tap into different tones of the same color.

It sounds obvious, but confidence is the biggest thing. I love walking around New York and admiring how stylish people are, but I think a lot of it is how they walk with confidence.

What’s the one styling hack you swear by for making what you already own feel like new? Get out of your head and challenge yourself to style something in a completely different way. For so long, I would put myself in a box with style. Instead of constantly pairing the same things together, try to shake it up.

I’ve recently been trying to style skirts and slacks more lately since I felt like I used to pair jeans with everything. It’s helped me appreciate what I have just to pair things differently.

Are there any pieces you believe are an essential part of any woman’s wardrobe?

A good pair of vintage jeans—or even vintage inspired—will always be my one true love.

An oversize blazer that goes with everything is a must-have.

And a powerful pair of sunglasses will never fail you.

When you’re shopping, what do you look for? What makes something worth buying in your eyes? If I can’t stop thinking about a piece for over a week, it means I really will wear it. Quality and fit are huge for me as well. I’m petite, so I try to make sure I’m not drowning in things. (I also have made good friends with my local tailor.) I love finding pieces worthy of a compliment. Are there any fashion brands you love shopping for at the moment? So many, but my top four at the moment are…

A.L.C. has become one of my recent favorites; the quality is *chefs kiss*.

Anine Bing’s pieces always make me feel powerful—like I might need to start a new business or have two cell phones.

Who What Wear Collection has great trend-forward pieces and basics that should not be missed.

Levi’s is just a tried-and-true brand for me. They feel warm and safe and have all staples I need.

Which spring trends do you think are worth investing in? And why?

Y2K nostalgia doesn’t seem to be going anywhere—low-waist jeans, butterfly accessories, tiny bags, thin brows, chain belts. I’m here for a lot of it. Except, [I’m] going to hold on to my fluffy brows a little longer.

Academic vibes are another fun trend on my radar. I’ve been loving cable-knit V-neck sweaters and miniskirts right now and just did a video inspired by it.

Sporty Spice I can also definitely get behind. I would’ve never considered myself a sneakerhead, but here I am shopping on StockX these days. It’s comfy and practical, which I love.

As you're also a clean-beauty expert, what three beauty products would you take with you to a desert island?

This serum has stuck around in my routine for so many years now. It's helped get rid of my hyperpigmentation and acne scarring and gives me such an even skin tone.