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Blind Gen Z activist makes history at Copenhagen Fashion Week

Credit: Vogue
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London, UK
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Lucy Edwards made history as the first blind model to walk the runway at Copenhagen Fashion Week, spotlighting inclusivity in the fashion industry.

When Lucy Edwards – a 24-year-old media presenter and blindness activist – stepped onto the runway at Copenhagen Fashion Week, everyone in attendance took notice.

Accompanied by her guide dog and dressed in a cream co-ord from Irish designer Sinéad O’Dwyer’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection, Lucy made history as the first blind model to walk at the Danish capital’s biannual fashion event.

Beginning her journey as a content creator during the early days of the pandemic, Lucy is no stranger to breaking barriers. Losing sight in her right eye at 11 due to incontinentia pigmenti, a rare genetic condition and becoming fully blind by 17, she realised she had few role models who shared her experience.

Driven by a desire to fill that void, she turned to social media to share her experience of life as a blind woman. Her candid, informative videos quickly gained traction, resonating with millions of followers on TikTok and beyond.

Today, Lucy boasts a social media following of over 2.8 million, but her influence extends far beyond social media.

@lucyedwards In 2024 blind people cannot vote in secret, I still can’t believe I’m writing this!! It’s only 15 days until the UK election so if you do want one of these McGonagle readers you have to request them from your local electoral authority. @RNIB have useful resources and template letters that you can send and it’s better to do this at least a week before the election. I will be shouting about this until voting day because this device should be mandatory in all polling stations but it’s not. There has to be adjustments made because blind people like myself cannot feel like our rights are being taken away from us. More videos to come ❤️ #UKElection #UKElections #Elections2024 #Vote #RightToVote ♬ original sound – British blind girl 👁🦮👩‍🦯

By October 2021, Edwards had become an ambassador and commercial model for Pantene, one of the world’s leading haircare brands. As part of this partnership, Lucy’s key goal was advocating for greater accessibility across the brand’s product lines.

Soon after, Pantene introduced Navilens technology — a QR-style code that allows blind and visually impaired consumers to scan packaging with their smartphones, providing them with crucial product information. This move marked a significant step forward in creating beauty products that everyone can use with ease, regardless of their abilities.

More recently, Lucy has become a brand ambassador for Mattel’s first blind Barbie. Her work has positioned her as a leader in the movement toward more inclusive practices, and her influence is now being felt across the fashion world.

@lucyedwardsI was so embarrassed of my long white cane but now Barbie has one 🤯 to all those who are struggling with their mobility aid, I hear you & I see you. You are amazing and beautiful just the way you are ❤️ *I am a Barbie ambassador but I have not worked with them on this post* . Audio description: Text on screen reads ‘POV: one day you’re embarrassed to be blind and now you’re the ambassador for blind Barbie’ the first two frames are Lucy back in 2014 at the start of her YouTube journey looking sad (she’s just lost her eyesight in these videos), it then cuts to Lucy in a photography studio smiling holding blind Barbie with her golden retriever guide dog Molly’♬ original sound – British blind girl 👁🦮👩‍🦯

Sinéad O’Dwyer, the visionary designer behind the collection Lucy modelled, is similarly committed to rethinking inclusivity in fashion.

Sinead’s designs are known for their sculptural approach to celebrating the female body, crafted with a diverse range of women in mind. Unlike many designers who rely on a single sample size, Sinead uses multiple fit models, ensuring that her creations can be worn by all body types.

Her show at Copenhagen Fashion Week, which included audio descriptions and fabric swatches for blind and low-vision guests, was a powerful statement on the importance of inclusivity in fashion.

The collaboration between Lucy and Sinead was a natural fit, then, reflecting their shared values and commitment to representation. As Lucy walked the runway, she not only made history, but also raised an important question: why isn’t this more common?

@hypebae London designer Sinéad O’ Dwyer had a guide dog on the runway at her #CPHFW show. 🐶 Video: Hypebae #london #copenhagen #sineadodwyer #copenhagenstyle ♬ original sound – HYPEBAE

For Lucy, the moment was a culmination of years of hard work and advocacy.

More importantly, being welcomed on the catwalk showed that inclusivity doesn’t have to be the exception, but the rule in fashion’s future.

As she continues to break boundaries in two historically uniform industries, Lucy and inclusivity-focused designers like Sinead O’Dwyer are proving that beauty and fashion truly belong to everyone.

Senior Writer & Media Coordinator London, UK

I’m Jessica (She/Her). Originally from Bermuda, I moved to London to get a Master’s degree in Media & Communications and now write for Thred to spread the word about positive social change, specifically ocean health and marine conservation. You can also find me dipping my toes into other subjects like pop culture, health, wellness, style, and beauty.  Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

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