Model With Muscular Dystrophy Stars In Diesel's “We Are Connected” Campaign

Jillian Mercado is a fashion blogger with muscular dystrophy. Typically, Mercado is the one writing about all the latest fashion trends and up and coming styles, but in Diesel's new "We Are Connected" Campaign, Mercado turned into a model, posing for the ad in her wheelchair.

In the photo, shot by fashion photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, Mercado is seen with artist James Astronaut, wearing a jean Diesel outfit and bright red lipstick. And while the ads turned out beautiful, Mercado admits that it wasn't easy stepping out of her comfort zone.

"I was really nervous. I will not sugarcoat that one," Mercado told Matt Lauer on Tuesday's episode of The Today Show. "They made it extremely comfortable to be there. I'm always behind the camera, never in front of it. I didn't want to mess up."

Also making Mercado nervous was the fact that she was putting herself out there to be judged by all.

"It's a harsh world to be in since, everyone is criticizing how you look, not your brain. There are people who don't understand, who are very close-minded and don't think before they say anything," she said. "It gets better. If you have a positive attitude and determination in life, everything gets better."

After seeing a Diesel casting call for models of all backgrounds, Mercado felt it was her calling to pose for the ad and share her inspiring story with the world.

"You don't have to look like a model to wear Diesel," she explained. "Every photo they release, someone can relate to it. And that's rare in the fashion industry."

In a Jan. 22 interview with WWD, Diesel designer Nicola Formichetti discussed Mercado's challenges. "It's never easy for her to move from point A to point B, but she's totally fearless and has really been an inspiration to me," Formichetti noted. "You don't have to be a conventional model type to represent a brand."