April Lockhart is Normalizing Disabled Fashun Girlies
COURTESY OF APRIL LOCKHART ON INSTAGRAM
Influencers like April Lockhart are the change that the fashion industry needs to see. April Lockhart is a fashion and beauty influencer that radiates positivity through her vibrant style and personality. As someone who has worked in the beauty industry marketing for brands like Caudalie and Ilia, she has first hand knowledge of how to reach a digital audience. Lockhart not only uses her platform for sharing her favorite beauty and fashion advice and products, but she also uses it to advocate for disability awareness. She was born with amniotic band syndrome which is why she is passionate about disability awareness in beauty, fashion, and more. She has even dubbed herself the disabled fashun girlie.
COURTESY OF APRIL LOCKHART ON INSTAGRAM
Around social media, Lockhart never really saw someone that was like her or someone she could look up to. She saw people with these amazing stories about overcoming obstacles but felt that that was all they were about, and she didn’t want her disability to overshadow her work and her creation. Eventually, Lockhart decided to post a TikTok of herself getting dressed that showed that she has a disability while also showing she has great style and can put together a cool outfit. She titled it “Normalizing Disabled Fashun Girlies in your Feed” and hit post. The positive outpour she received was moving. In an essay Lockhart wrote for Byrdie she recalled, “A sweet mom on TikTok whose 3-month-old daughter also has one hand wrote me, ‘Brb crying. You’re so beautiful. I can’t wait to show my daughter that she’s not alone’”
COURTESY OF APRIL LOCKHART ON INSTAGRAM
Lockhart wants people to understand the power of fashion and beauty. In her essay she explains, “Putting on a good outfit can give you the confidence you need for the day. Taking the time to do your makeup can be a moment of rest. Curling your hair gives you time to think without being glued to your phone. And a good pair of jeans can make you feel like a 10 on a first date.” Feeling good inside and out is a powerful thing, and April Lockhart inspires people to do so through fashion and beauty.
COURTESY OF APRIL LOCKHART ON INSTAGRAM
Lockhart is a Fashion Institute of Technology grad and is now based in Nashville, Tennessee. She also works in communications of Ilia Beauty in addition to her content creation. Her style is uniquely her. Just scrolling through her Instagram feed you can see her love of vibrant colors, fun prints and patterns, chic sunglasses, and hints of signature Nashville style cowboy boots. Everything is so carefully curated and produced on social media that often you don’t get to see the real people behind the posts, but April is different. She presents herself as authentic, genuine, and confident. Her wholesome content is always a bright spot in your feed. Along with her cool girl outfits, she promotes clean beauty, and as someone with years of experience in the beauty industry, she has sound product recommendations.
COURTESY OF OPHELIA & INDIGO
Recently, April has collaborated with Ophelia & Indigo on their new April Dress. The small woman-owned sustainable, ethical brand came out with a pastel plaid dress that emulates April’s style and personality. The dress can be thrown on with a pair of sneakers for a quick and stylish look, but its loose silhouette offers many more different styling opportunities. If this gives us any insight on April Lockhart’s future, I can’t wait to see what else she has in store for the fashion and beauty world.