April Lockhart: Turning Disability Into Style
- adriana
- Oct 6
- 5 min read
Meet April Lockhart: fashion trailblazer, digital influencer, and fearless advocate for the disabled community. Born with amniotic band syndrome, April once felt self-conscious about her disability – but she’s turned that experience into a bold statement of style, confidence, and empowerment. A graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a leading New York school for design, business, and creative arts, April has deep roots in beauty and fashion and has captivated audiences across social media, amassing over 16 million views and inspiring thousands to move – and dress – with confidence. From her New York Fashion Week runway debut to speaking at SXSW, her influence continues to grow. This July, she launched Disabled&, a dynamic new brand and community celebrating disability as a source of creativity, ambition, and style – and proving that representation is always in fashion.
Image by Jessica Steddom
Miami Living (ML): April, welcome to Miami Living! You’ve built such an inspiring presence online, blending fashion, advocacy, and personal storytelling in a way that feels so authentic. When you think about the journey from New Jersey to Nashville, what are the first words that come to mind about how far you’ve come?
It almost feels like two different worlds. My life has shifted so dramatically since moving to Nashville. At first, I thought being in a big city like New York would give me the most access and opportunity. But in reality, Nashville gave me something even more valuable - space. Space to reflect, to figure out what I wanted to share, and to create a platform that feels aligned with my voice. That breathing room changed everything for me. I miss & love so many parts of NJ, but Nashville feels like home now.
ML: For readers who may not be familiar, can you share what living with amniotic band syndrome has meant for you and how it’s shaped your journey – both personally and professionally?
Growing up with a limb difference taught me resilience. I always felt I had to work a little harder, and that drive has shaped who I am. But it also came with challenges - feelings of isolation, insecurity, and wondering how others would perceive me in friendships, relationships, and work.
When I stopped hiding and began speaking openly about my experience, that was the turning point. That honesty became the foundation of my career. My disability is the reason I’m here. And the most rewarding part is knowing that sharing my journey might help someone else, especially young girls who might be feeling the same things.
Image by Luke Rogers
ML: You’ve shared that you once felt embarrassed about your disability, but now you’re building a platform that celebrates it. Can you walk us through that emotional turning point and what gave you the courage to step into your power?
I think a lot of disabled people will tell you that confidence comes in waves. For me, new environments always triggered insecurity. I’d hide my arm until I felt safe enough to be fully myself.
After I got married, moved to Nashville, and felt more settled in life, I think something shifted. I realized I was still hiding online — wearing sleeves, angling photos — and it just hit me: why am I doing this? I love New Year’s resolutions, so at the start of 2022, I was feeling ready for a shift. I launched my series “normalizing disabled fashion girlies,” which became a signature part of my platform.
I’ll never forget pressing “post” on that first video and not even checking my phone until the next morning because I was so nervous. The response wasn’t an overnight viral moment, but it grew steadily, and that slow build gave me time to grow my own confidence in a very real way.
Image by Casper Yen
ML: You’re not just curating looks, you’re shifting culture. How do you see fashion functioning as a form of activism and representation for the disabled community?
Thank you, that means so much. Fashion was the vehicle that made me feel safe… and also bold.
I use the word “normalizing” often, because disability has long been treated as something taboo. But the reality is one in four people are disabled. We deserve to see ourselves reflected in fashion — not as an exception, but as part of the norm. I love that by simply getting dressed & sharing it, people get to see more disabilities. It can seem silly or small, but all that visibility matters.
ML: Your new brand is such a bold statement. Why did you choose the name Disabled&, and what do you want people to feel when they say it out loud?
The name came from a late-night brainstorm with a friend. I was trying to capture disability in a way that felt empowering and expansive, and mostly… not cringey. I kept throwing out ideas — “Disabled & creative? Disabled & cool?” — and then it clicked: what if it’s just Disabled&?
It’s an open invitation. Fill in the blank however you want. Disabled & powerful. Disabled & stylish. Disabled & complex. Because no one is just one thing, and I wanted the name to reflect that limitless possibility.
Image by Jessica Steddom
ML: Walking in New York Fashion Week for Victoria’s Secret was a historic moment. What was running through your mind as you stepped onto that runway, and what did that moment mean for the younger version of you watching from New Jersey?
Honestly, I have so much respect for models now — walking is harder than it looks! It was thrilling and terrifying all at once.
But it was so full circle. In college, I interned in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show department, so stepping onto the runway years later — as part of their first adaptive collection — gave me goosebumps.
It was so rewarding to be part of a launch that showed disabled women as aspirational, not just inspirational. Wish I could relive it over & over! Ready for more.
ML: Looking back, what were some of the most defining moments in your personal life that shaped your confidence and guided you toward becoming the creator and advocate you are today?
Learning to play guitar was a big one. Not many people know this, but at 18 I was on a singing competition show called Rising Star. I sometimes laugh at it now, but looking back, it was amazing that I got to play guitar with one hand on national television.
Of course, getting married was major — finding someone who loves me exactly as I am gave me a kind of confidence that only comes from being truly seen.
But the most transformative experience has been finding community. Meeting others with limb differences and disabilities in the last two years has shifted everything for me. That sense of belonging inspired Disabled&, and it continues to fuel my work every day.
Image by Jessica Steddom
ML: You’ve already checked Forbes 30 Under 30, SXSW, and major brand partnerships off your list. If you could dream into the next five years, what would be the ultimate milestone that would make you pause and say, “Wow, we did it”?
A TV show is at the top — I can’t give away the concept yet, but it would be magic. I’d also love to write a book (manifesting thatNew York Times bestseller sticker on the cover). And walking in Paris, Milan, or Copenhagen Fashion Week? Can you tell I have a lot of dreams?
Image by Luke Rogers
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