Lucy Dawson

Her life took a dramatic turn in 2016 when, after being misdiagnosed with a mental illness, she was correctly diagnosed with a rare brain disease called Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis. This autoimmune encephalitis occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy brain cells, causing inflammation that affects critical functions like judgment, perception, memory, and even unconscious activities such as breathing. The disease destroyed her speech, memory, and ability to walk. While in a mental ward, she was left unattended during a seizure, fell onto a heating pipe, and suffered third-degree burns on her buttocks and leg, which destroyed her sciatic nerve and left her leg paralyzed from the knee down.

Since her recovery, Lucy has become an activist for Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis awareness and for models with disabilities. She has worked on campaigns with brands like Ann Summers, George at Asda, Spotify, Amazon, Simply Be, Playful Promises, Love Honey, PrettyLittleThing, Feel Unique, Curvy Kate, Dear Scantilly, Bravissimo, Bondara, Fabletics, and Hunkemoller. Her Instagram following has grown to 370k. She is a survivor. Her story continues to raise awareness.