Natalie-Amber Freegard is a dynamic public speaker, model, presenter, and disability advocate dedicated to challenging stigma around visible and invisible illnesses. She is an official speaker for Cannes Lions 2025, where she addressed the importance of representation for women of colour with hidden disabilities, a topic central to her mission. A qualified personal trainer specialising in women with chronic illnesses, she combines professional expertise with lived experience, offering empowerment and practical guidance to those navigating health challenges.
Her speaking portfolio spans international and institutional platforms. She has educated audiences at the Barbados Association on Crohn’s Disease, delivered a powerful testimony at UK Parliament on her misdiagnosis journey, and spoken at her local NHS hospital during Black History Month about caring for Afro and curly hair textures in ICU, inspired by her own experience as a patient. Her authenticity and passion make her an unforgettable voice on inclusion and resilience.
Natalie-Amber has been recognised with prestigious awards, including the Alex Demain Lifetime Awareness Award from Crohn’s & Colitis UK and the MTM Black and Asian Empowering Woman Award. She has been featured in major documentaries alongside figures such as Adele Roberts, Richard Whitehead and Amy Dowden for Amazon Prime and the BBC. In modelling, she has broken barriers by becoming PrettyLittleThing’s first scarred model, championing visibility for those with post-surgical scars and chronic illness. Her career also includes work with Adidas, Sephora, House of Fraser, Deliveroo, Skims, and the National Lottery.
Her advocacy stems from a life-threatening misdiagnosis that led to sepsis, kidney failure and two emergency surgeries. After living with a stoma bag for a year, she turned her experience into a powerful force for change, becoming the first non-celebrity ambassador for Crohn’s & Colitis UK. She has led body acceptance and mental health workshops for stoma patients, hosted the BBC Radio Wiltshire series "Shapes and Sizes," and spoken at events including London Fashion Week and Face of Equality Week. Through her verified Instagram platform and international appearances, Natalie-Amber continues to amplify underrepresented voices and inspire others to embrace resilience, body positivity and authentic self-expression.
Natalie-Amber's official speaking topics are listed below:
- • Representation of women of colour with hidden disabilities
- • Body positivity and living with scars
- • Living with Crohn’s disease & stoma reversal awareness
- • ICU Haircare - caring for curly and afro-textured hair patients
- • Disability and media representation
- • Overcoming medical misdiagnosis
- • Misdiagnosis in women of colour
- • Raising awareness of hidden disabilities and IBD in the workplace
- • Coping with chronic fatigue, workplace/ everyday Life
- • Raising awareness of hidden disabilities and IBD within Schools (stop the stigma)
- • Achieving your fitness goals with hidden disabilities and chronic fatigue
- • Why fitness is crucial ( fitness is the only reason I survived the operating table)
Official Testimonials From Online & In-Person Events:
"In October 2023, the Barbados and Friends Association (Reading) welcomed Natalie-Amber as the keynote speaker for a Black History Month health awareness event on Crohn’s and Colitis. Speaking to 150 attendees, she shared her personal journey with honesty, humour and impact, combining facts, film and resources. Her heartfelt talk educated, inspired and gave hope to the community." - Richard, Chair of BAFA Reading
“Natalie delivered a fantastic workshop at our ambassador event – she speaks with confidence and clarity, and knows exactly how to keep a room engaged. She even went the extra mile by including an interactive session, which was a huge hit with our ambassadors.” - Rachel, Senior Social Media Executive, Eakin Healthcare
"Natalie-Amber has been an incredible advocate for us here at Crohn's & Colitis UK. She is both knowledgeable and full of enthusiasm, and she has done so much to help spread awareness of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and its symptoms. We were really lucky to have her as one of the faces of our award-winning Cut The Crap campaign to help people spot the symptoms of Crohn's and Colitis. She's great at thoroughly explaining complex concepts, comes to every project with bundles of ideas and enthusiasm, and connects really well with audiences. Put simply, Natalie-Amber makes a real difference." - Geraldine, Senior Media Lead, Crohns & Colitis UK
"I saw Natalie Amber speak at Cannes Lions 2025 about the future of inclusive fashion and marketing. Natalie's stage presence is absolutely undeniable, and I was captivated by her natural rapport with a large audience. She is friendly, warm, and her presentation was factual, interesting and did not feel at all over-rehearsed. I would highly recommend booking Natalie, not just for her lived experience and story but for her engaging and comedic delivery. I look forward to seeing what is next for Natalie." - Kelly, CEO, With Not For LTD
"Natalie-Amber is an inspiring and impactful public speaker whose lived experience brings depth and authenticity to her message. During our Black History Month event in 2023, Natalie-Amber delivered a compelling talk on curly hair care and Black hair texture. Her presentation was engaging, relatable, and well-received by staff across the Trust. She highlighted the importance of culturally sensitive care, reminding us that patients' needs extend beyond clinical treatment. Natalie-Amber is approachable, articulate, and deeply committed to making a difference. We highly recommend her as a public speaker." - Sharon, Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Health Inequalities, GRH Swindon
- 2025 – Official speaker for Cannes Lions
- 2024 – Qualified as a Level 3 personal trainer
- 2023 – Made history as the first model with a scar to work for PrettyLittleThing
- 2022 – Won the MTM Black and Asian Empowering Woman Award
- 2021 – Received the Alex Demain Lifetime Awareness Award from Crohn’s & Colitis UK
- 2020 – Became the first and only non-celebrity ambassador for Crohn’s & Colitis UK
How to hire Natalie-Amber Freegard
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Natalie-Amber Freegard 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.
