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Jillian Mercado

Jillian Mercado

Actress, Model & Activist for Greater Disability Representation in the Entertainment Industry

Travels From Travels From:
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
Live Event: $30,000 - $50,000
Virtual Event: $20,000 - $30,000
More Fee Info
Categories Categories:
Categories Categories:
Art, Civil Rights, DEI, Disability, Diversity & Inclusion, Empowerment, Fashion, Feminism, Genetics, Health, Hispanic Heritage, Influential Women, LGBTQ, Lifestyle, Literary, Modeling, Overcoming Adversity, Personal Growth, Photography, Social Activism, Storytelling, Television & Film, Women, Women's Empowerment, Women's Health
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Jillian Mercado Biography

Jillian Mercado is a disabled Latinx model, an advocate for greater representation in the industry, and an actress who has appeared in campaigns for Nordstrom, Target, Olay, and on the cover of the first digital September issue of Teen Vogue.

She is currently a guest star on the 20th TV/FX series "Dying For Sex" and previously starred as Maribel, a recurring role on the Showtime series, "The L Word: Generation Q," opposite Jennifer Beals.

Growing up, Mercado developed a love for fashion, but the industry’s Eurocentric and ableist beauty standards meant that she didn’t see herself represented. A native New Yorker born to Dominican parents and diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in her early teens, she resolved to redress this inequality by entering the fashion industry herself. She studied a degree in marketing at FIT, going on to intern at Allure magazine in a bid to “learn the politics behind fashion so I could hire people who looked like me,” she said at Women of the World’s 10th annual summit.

Mercado uses her platform to push for greater representation in the industry, saying in an interview with Bustle “I just hope that [underrepresented people] see themselves in me, in any way possible.” Her activism, which focuses on the intersection of gender and disability, has included working with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in 2018 to reduce inequality, one of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 03/06/2025.

Jillian Mercado Speaking Topics

  • UNBRAINWASHING SOCIETY

    From the moment Jillian Mercado burst onto the fashion scene less than two years ago, she’s been making headlines. As one of the most visible and successful models with a disability (spastic muscular dystrophy), Jillian has become an important voice and advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities. But interestingly, Jillian didn’t start her career in front of the camera. She lived and breathed fashion from a young age, as her parents (both immigrants from the Dominican Republic) worked in an embroidery factory and shoe store. She studied fabrics, learned to sew, and then got hit by the fashion bug.

    With a degree in merchandising management from New York’s esteemed Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), she worked with top photographers and at Tumblr, was the creative director of We The Urban magazine, and immersed herself in the business of fashion. On a whim, she submitted herself to an open call for a Diesel worldwide ad campaign, which immediately went viral. The buzz was instant, and she soon appeared in campaigns for Olay, Beyoncé, Bumble 100,

    Calvin Klein fragrance, Nordstrom, Target, and Tommy Hilfiger. She was featured on Teen Vogue ’s first ever September digital cover and has been profiled in editorial features including Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Glassbook, Jejeune and Herring and Herring magazines. She’s also featured in Zoe Saldana’s upcoming documentary series Breaking Glass.

    Off-camera, Jillian is in demand as a speaker and panelist on numerous issues around accessibility and visibility for the disability community --not only in the fashion world, but in all walks of life. She’s addressed conferences sponsored by the United Nations, Google, Microsoft, and Tommy Hilfiger and she continues to do all she can to show that “disability doesn’t have to be ugly, it should be embraced. I wish I had that role model growing up, but to be that role model is great.”

Jillian Mercado Videos

  • Jillian Mercado: The New Model for Diversity
    Jillian Mercado: The New Model for Diversity
    Jillian Mercado, model and disabilities activist, speaks with moderator Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani, host of Huffpost's "Between You and Me," ...
  • Jillian Mercado Wouldn't Let Muscular Dystrophy Stop Her From ...
    Jillian Mercado Wouldn't Let Muscular Dystrophy Stop Her From ...
    "If you feel like the world is getting you down, you should be the person to change it." Jillian Mercado is a Dominican American model who was ...
  • Extraordinary Beauty: Jillian Mercado on loving her body
    Extraordinary Beauty: Jillian Mercado on loving her body
    Growing up in new York City, Jillian Mercado had no idea that at twenty-eight she 'd be modeling in campaign ads for Diesel.
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FAQs on booking Jillian Mercado

  • How do I book Jillian Mercado to speak at my event?

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  • What are the speaker fees for Jillian Mercado

    Speaking fees for Jillian Mercado, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Jillian Mercado are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jillian Mercado, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Jillian Mercado speak about?

    Jillian Mercado is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art, Civil Rights, DEI, Disability, Diversity & Inclusion, Empowerment, Fashion, Feminism, Genetics, Health, Hispanic Heritage, Influential Women, LGBTQ, Lifestyle, Literary, Modeling, Overcoming Adversity, Personal Growth, Photography, Social Activism, Storytelling, Television & Film, Women, Women's Empowerment, Women's Health.

  • Where does Jillian Mercado travel from?

    Jillian Mercado generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Jillian Mercado’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Jillian Mercado for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jillian Mercado for your next private or corporate function.

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Jillian Mercado is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as UNBRAINWASHING SOCIETY. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jillian Mercado for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Jillian Mercado generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Laurie Hernandez, Geena Rocero, Nina Garcia, Munroe Bergdorf and Elaine Welteroth. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jillian Mercado for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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