Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Lulu Garcia-Navarro, NPR and Amanda Morris, NPR

U.K. bridal boutique lauded for including mannequin in wheelchair

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
A bridal mannequin sitting in a wheelchair in a small shop display has gotten big attention.
A bridal mannequin sitting in a wheelchair in a small shop display has gotten big attention.

Bridal shop co-owner Laura Allen didn't think it was a big deal when she had the idea to put a window display mannequin in a wheelchair.

The mannequin, affectionately named Prunella, sits in one of the two storefront displays for The White Collection, a small bridal shop in Portishead, England. Prunella wears a beautiful white wedding dress with a flowery boat neckline and a fabulous pair of Louboutin shoes. The display caught the eye of artist Beth Wilson — who uses a wheelchair. In a tweet she wrote, "it shouldn't be exciting but it's the first time I've ever seen disability portrayed in a shop window."

#

The tweet went viral, putting Prunella on even larger display as people around the world starting vocalizing their support and appreciation for the inclusive display.

"That's created this absolute frenzy and this outpouring of messages on this debate that more shops should follow suit," said Allen's sister and shop co-owner Sarah Parker. "This shouldn't be an unusual thing to see in a shop window."

Bridal shop co-owners have affectionately named their display mannequin sitting in a wheelchair "Prunella."
Bridal shop co-owners have affectionately named their display mannequin sitting in a wheelchair "Prunella."

A stream of visitors has come to take pictures of the the display, including little girls in wheelchairs. Allen and Parker have been overwhelmed by how much their display has meant to people, including U.K. resident Maria Coehlo.

Coehlo has had to constantly advocate for her daughter ever since juvenile arthritis put her in a wheelchair at age 17. She and her daughter, now 21-years-old, are used to meeting barriers.

"People's perception of her is changed because the mobility aid is what they perceive," Coehlo said. "They don't see the vibrant, beautiful, intelligent, incredible human being that uses the tool as a way of getting around. They just see the condition or the disability."

With the window display, Coehlo said they had something to celebrate for once. After she learned of the display, she called the shop to thank them.

"I just thought how incredible, how amazing, at last," she said. "Someone has just normalized that wheelchair and that normalizes my daughter."

Allen and Parker change their window display every month. They're not sure what they'll put up for February, but they're taking suggestions. Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.