The online clothing brand ASOS has been celebrated by deaf people online after it used a cochlear implant user as a model for one of its products.
Dancer Natasha Ghouri – who previously featured in the music video for the Sleepwalkrs track, More Than Words – appears on the site modelling gold hoop earrings with a red mushroom, priced at £5.
The news was shared to Twitter on Tuesday by user Asia Smith, who said: “Definitely not crying because of ASOS using an earring model with a hearing aid [sic].
“It’s so refreshing to see this kind of representation for people like me.”
Sharing another snap on her Instagram, Ghouri confirmed the news and said: “My heart is full right now. Thank you so much for all your kind messages WOW.
“It may just be an ear but it means so much more […] representation matters and I’m bloody proud to represent my community.
“Biggest love to ASOS for welcoming me in and breaking boundaries as this will really help and inspire people out there.”
Deaf charities have also shown their support for the company’s decision, with the RNID tweeting that “Representation. Matters. So. Much.”
Well done @ASOS for their positive decision to include Natasha, a model with a cochlear implant, on their website. We still have a long way to go but great to see such refreshing & empowering representation & embracing a positive inclusion agenda https://t.co/VpEQlfp5Tb @Femail
— Richard Kramer (@RichardKSense) April 15, 2021
Richard Kramer, chief executive of the deafblind charity Sense, added: “Well done ASOS for their positive decision to include Natasha, a model with a cochlear implant, on their website.
“We still have a long way to go but great to see such refreshing and empowering representation and embracing a positive inclusion agenda.”
Photo: ASOS.
By Liam O’Dell. Liam is a mildly deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He wears bilateral hearing aids and can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.
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Mrs Judith Wilson
April 16, 2021
Wonderful! Long overdue…there is nothing shameful about having a cochlear implant or wearing a hearing aid, just as there is no shame in being disabled in any way. The way people deal with these problems is to be celebrated, not hidden.