It’s commonly understood that beauty standards come and go. Like a constant ebb and flow, societal notions of what is considered beautiful shift from generation to generation. A striking and well-dressed lady of the 1950s could easily be judged as matronly or dowdy in 2022. While much has certainly evolved over the years, it has felt for some time that the fashion industry was laser focused on showcasing a singular specific model profile. Tall, slim, unblemished and fair-skinned, models and supermodels over the past half-century have mostly appeared to conform to one specific mould. This has often led to many groups and cultures of the global population feeling snubbed, unrepresented and excluded from the couture conversation. The sentiment voiced time and time again is that more inclusivity, diversity and representation of all types of people is needed along the catwalks of New York, London and Paris and on the covers of glossy fashion magazines. 6 K-pop idols who are ‘human luxury brands’, from V to Jennie Heeding this call, many designers and fashion houses have in recent years hired a slew of beautiful models that don’t conform to an antiquated notion of beauty. The following are just seven of the most inspiring and stunning supermodels who have challenged outdated societal standards and brought a more inclusive and representative feel to the fashion industry. 1. Sofia Jirau Recently making global headlines, Sofia Jirau is the 24-year-old Puerto Rican model with Down syndrome who has been featured in the Victoria’s Secret Love Cloud Collection campaign. Not only has Jirau walked in New York Fashion Week, she made history by being the first model with Down syndrome to snag a campaign for the beloved undergarment and lingerie brand. In a press release, Victoria’s Secret stated that the campaign is a “first of its kind … reinforcing Victoria’s Secret’s commitment to welcoming and celebrating all women”. 2. Winnie Harlow Discovered by fellow supermodel Tyra Banks , Winnie Harlow was a contestant on the popular competition series America’s Next Top Model . Though she didn’t win, Harlow went on to take the modelling world by storm, walking in fashion shows around the world and being featured in endless campaigns for high profile brands like Fendi, Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs and Victoria’s Secret. Harlow has vitiligo, a skin condition in which patches of skin lose pigmentation. Because of this she has never fit into the cookie cutter model mould, but she has proudly embraced her authentic self, frequently speaking out about beauty standards and her condition in interviews. 3. Ashley Graham In an industry so obsessed with body image, Ashley Graham is a gorgeous inspiration that challenges the size-zero stereotype of beauty. In 2016, Graham became the first plus-sized model to be featured on the highly anticipated, highly coveted cover of Sports Illustrated ’s Swimsuit Issue. 6 facts about A$AP Rocky, father to Rihanna’s first child In addition to this impressive accolade, the supermodel has worked for a number of high-end fashion labels, including Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana and Tommy Hilfiger. She’s also written a body-positive memoir called A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty and Power Really Look Like . 4. Jillian Mercado Jillian Mercado began her career in the world of fashion as a student at New York’s prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology. Because of her muscular dystrophy, Mercado uses a wheelchair and is one of the most prominent models with a physical disability. Determined to tackle the industry’s issue of underrepresentation of people with disabilities, Mercado is one of the most impressive models in the world right now. She has worked for several top fashion brands, such as Diesel and the US department store Nordstrom. She was even featured in a campaign promoting Beyoncé’s music and her 2016 “Formation” world tour. 5. Diandra Forrest African-American model Diandra Forrest has the notable distinction of being the first albino female model to be signed to a major modelling agency – Skorpion MGMT. Having been featured on the cover of Ebony magazine as well as in Kanye “Ye” West’s iconic video for Power , Forrest has been an empowering champion for diversity in the modelling industry. In an interview with Glamour , Forrest said: “The more models there are with different looks, the more role models there will be. And I think that’s great.” It finally happened: Gucci and Adidas’ collaboration at Milan Fashion Week 6. Andreja Pejić Born in the early 1990s in former Yugoslavia, acclaimed trans model Andreja Pejić fled her conflict-ridden homeland and grew up in Australia where, as a teenager, she was ultimately discovered by modelling scouts. Before her transition, Pejić sported a striking androgynous look and initially received much attention for modelling both men’s and women’s clothing. Blurring the gender binary boundaries, she walked in Jean-Paul Gaultier’s 2011 men’s and women’s fashion shows. In that same year, she was included as one of FHM ’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World list and as one of Out ’s most compelling people. Additionally, Pejić has graced many glossy covers, including Elle , Marie Claire and GQ . Moreover, the stereotype-smashing supermodel holds the notable distinction of being the first openly transgender model to be profiled by Vogue , in its May 2015 edition. She also joined music superstar Taylor Swift on her “1989” world tour stage. 7. Rebekah Marine Born without her right forearm, Rebekah Marine aka. the “Bionic Model”, is a model, activist and motivational speaker who proudly promotes the importance of loving and embracing oneself, no matter how different one’s body might be. Marine wears a prosthetic limb and has been an ambassador for prosthetics manufacturer TouchBionics. She has also walked in several New York Fashion week shows and was featured in the 2015 Nordstrom Anniversary Catalogue. Want more stories like this? Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter .