Disability activist and social media influencer Melissa Blake offers a frank, illuminating memoir and a call to action for disabled people and allies.

In the summer of 2019, journalist Melissa Blake penned an op-ed for CNN Opinion. A conservative pundit caught wind of it, mentioning Blake's work in a YouTube video. What happened next is equal parts a searing view into society, how we collectively view and treat disabled people, and the making of an advocate.

After a troll said that Blake should be banned from posting pictures of herself, she took to Twitter and defiantly posted three smiling selfies, all taken during a lovely vacation in the Big Apple:

Her tweet went viral, attracting worldwide media attention and interviews. Now, in her manifesto, Beautiful People, Blake shares her truths about disability, writing about (among other things):

• the language we use to describe disabled people
• ableism, microaggressions, and their pernicious effects
• what it's like to live in a society that not only isn't designed for you, but actively operates to render you invisible
• her struggles with self image and self acceptance
• the absence of disabled people in popular culture
• why disabled people aren't tragic heroes

Highlighting other disabled activists and influencers, Blake's work is the calling card of a powerful voice--one that has sparked new, different, better conversations about disability.

"No matter what kind of body we move through the world in, Melissa's warmth is a welcome invitation to join her in recognizing the beauty we each possess." ―Jessica Slice and Caroline Cupp, authors of Dateable: Swiping Right, Hooking Up, and Settling Down While Chronically Ill and Disabled

"In prose that is clear, warm, and always laced with humor, Melissa draws you in, making you a part of her world. With her trademark wit, pop culture references, and ability to tackle challenging topics with seeming effortlessness, Beautiful People is a book with heart and is an absolute delight to read."―Erin Khar, author of Strung Out