By Filipa Gaspar
A deaf woman says she has achieved her "dreams" after being featured wearing a designer cochlear implant in British Vogue.
Imy Harris was born "profoundly deaf" meaning she had no hearing from birth and for her growing up with a hearing impairment shaped her early life.
The 22-year-old said she was the only deaf student in primary and secondary school and had to rely on lipreading and visual cues to communicate with people.
And the lack of representation in the media made life "harder" to herself.
But her life would change when she was featured in the world-famous fashion magazine British Vogue after working with designer Destiny Pinto who creates fashionable medical devices.
On modeling for the renowned magazine Imy from Cheltenham said: "It was a full-circle moment — something I never imagined growing up. I remember flipping through the pages and seeing the photos, thinking, “Wow, this is real!”
"It was powerful to see my story shared meaningfully. I was grateful for the opportunity, and it made me reflect on how far I’ve come.
"The experience reaffirmed that when we push for change, we can create spaces where everyone feels seen and valued."
Imy was born deaf and had two hearing aids but she said she mostly relied on lip reading.
One of her biggest struggles has been dealing with loud environments - including places with a lot of background noise.
Imy Harris was featured wearing a designer cochlear implant in British Vogue. (Tom Wren via SWNS)
She explains how often it feels like a "constant battle" to hear people speak - leading to "frustration and fatigue."
She said: "Growing up with a hearing impairment greatly shaped my early life. My childhood was a mix of challenges and unique experiences.
"Although my family was very supportive, navigating a world that wasn’t built for me wasn’t always easy. I was the only deaf student in both primary and secondary school, which sometimes made me feel isolated.
"I relied on lipreading and visual cues to communicate and learned to adapt to different environments. Despite the struggles, my childhood helped me develop resilience and a strong sense of identity."
She explained that growing up she did not see anyone like her on television or social media until her late teens.
However, she now feels there is more representation in brands and media outlets.
"This lack of representation made it harder to see myself in the world, and I questioned where I fit in," said Imy.
"However, as I got older and started modeling and using social media, I began to see more spaces open for diverse voices, including those of Deaf individuals. While we're still a long way from widespread, authentic representation, it’s encouraging to see the shift happening.
"More brands, media outlets, and creators are recognizing the importance of showcasing diversity, and I’m proud to be a part of that. It’s empowering to know that my presence in the media can help others see themselves reflected in ways that I didn’t grow up.
Imy Harris was born deaf. (Tom Wren via SWNS)
"There’s still a long way to go, but I’m hopeful that future generations of Deaf individuals will feel seen and valued in the media."
But since December 2023 she has been wearing cochlear implants which bypass damaged parts of the ear and stimulate the auditory nerve helping her to hear.
She said they have been "life-changing" for her.
Imy explained: "The process was long, from the initial consultation to surgery, recovery, and activation. The adjustment period was challenging, as I had to retrain my brain to interpret new sounds, which initially felt strange and overwhelming.
"But over time, things started to make more sense. It’s still a journey of fine-tuning, but the implants have allowed me to experience sounds I hadn’t heard before, making a big difference in my communication. It wasn’t a quick process, but it’s been worth it."
Imy approached designer Destiny Pinto and watched her journey grow to make medical devices more fashionable.
Soon after she was later chosen to model hearing aid covers by the designer who recently won the Vogue and BMW Future Creators competition.
(Tom Wren via SWNS)
She said: "I couldn’t believe it at first — Vogue is such an iconic platform, and being recognized by them was a dream come true. The shoot itself was incredible. The team was professional and welcoming and made sure everything was accessible for me.
"The experience was empowering, not just because of the opportunity to be in such a prestigious magazine, but because it felt like a step toward greater inclusivity for Deaf individuals in the fashion world."
She explained the experience was a "full-circle" moment - something she never imagined growing up.
And hopes the feature "inspires" others with hearing impairments to follow their dreams.
Imy added: "I remember flipping through the pages and seeing the photos, thinking, “Wow, this is real!” It was powerful to see my story shared meaningfully. I was grateful for the opportunity, and it made me reflect on how far I’ve come.
"The experience reaffirmed that when we push for change, we can create spaces where everyone feels seen and valued.
"I hope the British Vogue feature brings greater visibility and awareness to individuals with hearing impairments. It’s important to show that people with disabilities, including those who are deaf, are just as capable of succeeding in industries like fashion and media.
"I want the feature to inspire others with hearing impairments to pursue their dreams, no matter the barriers they may face. Additionally, I hope it sparks conversations about the need for more inclusivity and accessibility, not just in the fashion world but across all industries.
"By showcasing diverse voices and stories, I believe it can help break down stereotypes and encourage a more accepting, inclusive environment for everyone."
