This Orthodox Jewish model made history at New York Fashion Week

February 24, 2023

Hilary Phelps

Brasch, who has muscular dystrophy, walked the runway at New York Fashion Week for the South Asian brand Randhawa.

(New York Jewish Week) - When disability activist Lily Brasch was asked if she would walk the runway as a model for New York Fashion Week, she didn't know if she would be able to do it.

That's not because she has a rare form of muscular dystrophy, which weakens muscles and limits her ability to walk. Rather, it was unfortunate timing: The show was set for Friday evening, when the weekly Jewish holiday of Shabbat begins.

But Brasch, who is Orthodox and goes by the stage name Lily B., quickly devised a workaround: She took her turn on the catwalk in Midtown at 5 p.m. and, instead of schle...

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