Amber Manning, a 27-year-old international disabled model and entrepreneur, is on a mission to make the fashion and entertainment industries more inclusive. As the founder of Limmodellingnetwork, she has created a platform that provides equal opportunities for diverse talents. In this interview, she shares her journey, challenges, and vision for a more accessible industry.
Hello Amber Manning, welcome to Blackbird News! We’re thrilled to have you here. To kick things off, we’d love for you to introduce yourself to our readers. Could you share a little about your journey and what inspired you to start Limmodellingnetwork?
My name is Amber Manning, a 27-year-old up-and-coming successful international disabled model and business owner.
I built my company in September 2021. I had the idea to create a fashion-inspired online networking agency called Limmodellingnetwork Agency to provide inclusive opportunities to all different members of the public and give people more equal access to the entertainment industry connections.
What challenges have you faced as a disabled model, and how have you overcome them in the fashion industry?
I have encountered discriminatory attitudes, general disrespect, and questioning of my physiological abilities to do my job or achieve my current accomplishments.
As a disabled model with a complicated and permanent brain injury, I navigate an ever-changing industry.
So, I attempt to create an inclusive environment for others.
How has your experience with health complications, like the brain tumor, shaped your business and your approach to your work?
I was heavily bullied, racially abused, and received regular threats on a daily basis for expressing my differences, individuality, and occasional difficulties in voicing my opinions to the wider public.
Sometimes, the general population can be cruel and hostile.
My brain tumor sometimes affects everything from visual problems to communication skills and occasional movement restrictions, along with excruciating headaches that impact every aspect of my daily life.
However, I attempt to maintain a positive spirit against any adversities that come my way.
By approaching challenges with a respectful and resilient attitude, I form connections with those who truly value my worth in the industry.
What message do you want to send to others facing similar health or societal challenges?
I would like to clarify and ease concerns about living with complex disabilities. You can still overcome the challenges of health problems.
With a positive and caring mindset, putting your passion into action can help you achieve opportunities that sometimes feel impossible to reach.
How do you balance running a digital business while managing your health, and what advice would you offer to others juggling similar responsibilities?
It can be very difficult and complicated to process at times. Sometimes, my symptoms from multiple health problems flare up.
These include remission from cervical cancer, LLD, and chronic nutritional problems. However, my mentality always perseveres with hope.
Your aim should be to support and create an original path for others to participate in general society, which is usually restricted to those in higher levels. Equality is often limited, but achieving it is always possible.
Limmodellingnetwork is committed to inclusivity and diversity—how do you ensure these values are reflected in the models and companies you work with?
Limmodellingnetwork will always aim to be accessible by maintaining an inclusive and diverse attitude, offering opportunities on one specific platform instead of separate ones.
This, in turn, provides more simplified accessibility for models or artists to participate without deeply impacting their financial circumstances, in comparison to other networking or modeling agency platforms.
Could you share a defining moment in your career that made you feel proud of the work you’ve done?
I would emphasize that the moment I received my first magazine publication and created my business—after years of attempting to work with a modeling agency that supported my ideas and vision—was truly defining.
It proved my capabilities and showed what can be achieved without wealth, self-ambition, or other negative attributes that sometimes overshadow people’s psychological judgments.
What are your goals for the future of Limmodellingnetwork, and how do you see it evolving in the coming years?
The long-term goal of Limmodellingnetwork is to keep expanding—creating more opportunities for individuals and companies alike.
I want to continue providing equal opportunities in the entertainment industry and breaking narratives that limit people in different levels of the general economy due to class, complexion, or disabilities.
