FYI, This Model Is About to Change the Entire Fashion Industry (in a Good Way!)

Mercado attended some of the biggest shows at both NYFW and NYMFW this year, grabbing the attention of street style photographers and designers alike. Get used to seeing her in the front row!

If you're not already following Jillian's Tumblr, Manufactured 1987, you're missing out on some quality fashion and beauty content. Including homemade GIFs (like this one!) that show off behind-the-scenes peeks from shoots and parties, Manufactured 1987 is a dream come true for tech-savvy fashionistas.

Jillian studied merchandising management at New York City's Fashion Institute of Technology, hoping to enter the magazine publishing world. She also spent three years working for We the Urban, an aesthetically pleasing online magazine that heralds new fashion and lifestyle trends.

"Growing up I didn't think of [modeling] as being a possibility, and I was a little scared about throwing myself into it," Jillian told The Wall Street Journal. "When I was younger, I didn't see anyone out there like me doing this very thing." Now, she represents everybody out there who never dreamed that high-fashion modeling could be a reality.

Jillian churns out consistently fierce photos for top brands, never letting muscular dystrophy get in the way of her dream. By creating visibility for differently abled members of the fashion world, Mercado is opening the door for aspiring models of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds.