This year, Andie Willis featured on the cover wrap of Good Housekeeping magazine - a milestone in a journey that's anything but ordinary. After entering a competition on social media, she was one of three people to be chosen. It is one of her proudest moments in her modelling career, which took off a few years ago. "I have always wanted to model, but because of my health, confidence and bringing up a family, I just didn't," says Andie. “I had trained in other things, like hairdressing, but have not been able to work since 2006, so it was my opportunity to do something for myself.”
Dream job
Her modelling journey began after she came across a Facebook group called Models of Diversity, which advocates for better representation in the fashion, beauty and media industries. It's where she now finds most of her work, alongside other pages on social media.
Andie says her photoshoots have been met with encouragement and positivity by the disability community, and her Motability Scheme car is essential to making it all happen. “Public transport isn't a viable option for me. I have to travel with a chaperone, so the cost of travelling by train is not feasible," she explains.
Andie's car enables her to travel to photoshoots in cities such as London and Birmingham - trips that would otherwise be impossible. "I rely on my Motability Scheme car. I have to use a cane or a wheelchair as I cannot walk far. I probably would not be doing all the things I am without it.”
Switching to electric
Andie currently drives a Toyota bZ4X, her first electric vehicle. While initially hesitant about the switch, she's now been behind the wheel for more than a year. “My husband Collin convinced me to go electric,” she says. “Because we could have the charger at home, we knew it was going to be cost-effective, so saving money was probably the main reason we wanted to go electric.” And when she goes on holiday this year, she'll drive to the airport and leave her car charging there.
Her car has been specially adapted with a hoist to lift her electric wheelchair. "It is my biggest saviour. I do not know what I would do without it because my electric wheelchair is obviously too heavy for me," she says. "If I wasn't on the Motability Scheme, I would not have been able to afford it. That's how I get around." The Motability Scheme arranged for her car adaptation, making independent travel a possibility for Andie, who has fibromyalgia and has developed long Covid.
“I love driving my car; it gives me a sense of independence. But if it's a long distance, it is more likely that Collin will drive, as my back cannot handle it no matter how many cushions I use or how much I adjust the seats. The car is very comfortable - as there is no glove compartment, there is a lot of space as a passenger. The car offers a beautiful and quiet ride.”
Making a statement
Among her many photoshoots, one stands out for Andie. “My favourite was a bridal shoot. I sat in my wheelchair modelling a bridal gown. It was great to show that, even if you are in a wheelchair, you can go down the aisle. It was great to be able to portray that.”
For Andie, modelling is not just a job - it's a platform to show that age, disability or body type are not barriers to feeling confident or being seen. “You go through changes menopause, you're hot all the time,” she says with a laugh. “But I want to let women know that you can feel confident in yourself, whether you are plus-size, whether you are black, short or whatever. There are no restrictions, and there is a place for everybody in the fashion industry. Being a wheelchair user does not stop me from doing what I want to do.”
She's encouraged by the growing inclusivity within the modelling world. “I think there is more diversity in fashion shows, in photoshoots, and that's really nice. And to be one of those people is great.”
As well as modelling, Andie writes a blog, Life of a Fibro Warrior (andie01322.wordpress.com), which she started in 2014 after experiencing temporary paralysis. It offers a candid look into her life and health struggles. For Andie, it's both a form of release and a resource for others.
Andie is redefining what it means to live fully and authentically on her terms. From embracing electric driving for independence to entering the modelling industry later in life, she is a powerful example that it's never too late to take the spotlight.
