Emma Lines (she/her) is a history-making model, content creator and disability rights advocate who has become a powerful voice for inclusivity in fashion and media. She made history as the first wheelchair model for M&S and as one of three faces of Primark’s first adaptive fashion range, a milestone that brought inclusive design to the UK high street. With over five years of experience in modelling and content creation, Emma is also building an inspiring career as a public speaker, raising awareness about representation and accessibility.
At the age of 17, Emma’s condition, Charcot-Marie Tooth, a neuromuscular disease, progressed unexpectedly, leaving her a full-time wheelchair user with limited dexterity in her hands. Determined not to let this define her, Emma pursued her passion for fashion and began modelling. She soon appeared in campaigns and commercials and secured partnerships with major brands, including a 7-month collaboration with ASOS and a 3-month partnership with Next. Her career shows how resilience and determination can transform obstacles into opportunities.
Emma’s digital presence has also become a key part of her impact. Through her Instagram account, she engages more than 25,000 followers with her series “Fashion Shown Sitting Down.” This creative content challenges perceptions of disability while celebrating fashion from a perspective that resonates with all audiences. By combining creativity with advocacy, Emma has built an authentic platform that highlights the importance of inclusive representation in style and media.
As a speaker, Emma inspires audiences with her story of resilience, representation and ambition. She has spoken in Parliament, at Primark panels, for the Professional Publishers Association, and at the CMT UK annual conference, where she became the charity’s first-ever ambassador. In 2025, she joined fellow models at Cannes Lions, sharing her experiences of exclusion in media and marketing while offering practical ideas to break down barriers. Emma continues to challenge the industry to be more inclusive and uses her voice to push for a world where fashion and media reflect the diversity of society.
Emma Lines's official speaking topics are listed below:
- Breaking barriers in fashion and media
- Disability representation and inclusion in creative industries
- Fashion accessibility: what style looks like sitting down
- Building authentic online communities
- Advocacy, resilience and ambition in the face of adversity
Official Testimonials From Both Online & In-Person Events
"I had the pleasure of watching Emma Lines speak at Cannes Lions 2025 about the future of inclusive fashion. Emma is a powerhouse, an accomplished model with experience working with global brands and retailers and an extremely professional and confident speaker with authority. During Emma’s session, there was a staged “technical issue” that I honestly believed was happening! It didn’t feel rehearsed at all, and Emma commanded the room with ease. Emma brings her lived experience to everything she does, and I look forward to hearing more of her story." - Kelly, CEO of With Not For
"Hearing Emma speak at Cannes Lions 2025 was a real moment of connection for me. Her ability to connect with the audience, share her story with honesty, clarity and humour was refreshing. Emma kept me engaged with her direct eye contact and confidence, she questioned the boundaries around the creative world and its representation of models with a disability. She shared stories of where she is at a disadvantage for auditions, imagine having no access to a building, having to wait somewhere else because the lift is out of order or a booked driver doesn’t have a vehicle big enough. I have no doubt Emma will success in her quest to represent people with disabilities on a worldwide stage." - Rachel, Graphic Designer and Marketing Executive
"The way Emma spoke at Cannes Lions 2025, how her words provoked emotion from the audience including myself, was truly inspirational. We were all sat their listening to this brave young woman share her truth before people she’d never met before and it really made me think - we are all sat down, why isn’t this considered in fashion? Emma spoke with passion and eagerness to not only be heard and seen, but to advocate for all others who aren’t considered and get told use the access “behind the bins” or the service lift. Keep doing what you’re doing, Emma!" - Jessica, Retail Gift Aid Coordinator
"Emma was an amazing speaker to have at our annual conference! Super engaging and the audience loved her! Thanks so much for your talk, and inviting so many questions from the room. You brought a fantastic energy to the whole day. We can’t wait to work with Emma again in the future!" - Vicky, Trustee, CMTUK
"Emma really opened up my eyes to something I had never truly considered before: Fashion sitting down. The more she delved into the topic, the more I questioned how I’d gone almost my entire life not seeing clothes modelled in their most natural way. I bought my daughter a trench coat when she was 9 months old but admittedly, it didn’t quite look right on her in the pushchair. Once she could walk, the coat had a completely different drop to it and therefore a different look. I can only imagine the frustrations that Emma feels when shopping for clothes and not seeing them modelled in the ways that she would wear them so I think it’s fantastic that she’s being the change she wants to see in the world and I’ll be supporting her every step of the way!" - Tahirah, Content Creator
- 2025 – Spoke at Cannes Lions on representation in media and marketing
- 2025 – Became the first-ever ambassador for CMT UK
- 2023 – Partnered with Next for 3 months on fashion campaigns
- 2022 – Partnered with ASOS for 7 months on adaptive fashion content
- 2022 – Featured in Primark’s first adaptive fashion range campaign
How to hire Emma Lines
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Emma Lines for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
