A fashion show in Romania brought models who use wheelchairs alongside professional runway models, placing disability representation and equal opportunities at the forefront of its latest event. The Atypic Beauty Gala took place on 22 October 2026, at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest. The event featured creations by Romanian fashion designer Catalin Botezatu, with models with and without disabilities sharing the runway.
Organised to promote inclusion and challenge stereotypes surrounding people with disabilities, the fashion show used the runway to highlight their participation in the fashion industry and wider society. Rather than presenting wheelchair users separately, the event paired them with other models as they showcased Botezatu's designs.
Atypic Beauty Gala Promotes Runway Inclusion
The Atypic Beauty Gala formed part of the Atypic Beauty national awareness campaign, which focuses on inclusion, respect and equal opportunities for people with disabilities in Romania. The campaign was initiated by Magda Coman and has been running for more than 13 years. Its activities have reached dozens of cities across Romania and internationally, raising awareness of the experiences and rights of people with disabilities.
The 22 October event marked the campaign's 57th edition, organised by the Open Your Heart Association. Wheelchair-using models appeared alongside professional models and were accompanied on stage by public figures. The programme was designed to communicate messages about acceptance, accessibility and equal opportunities through the participation of its guests and runway performers.
Among those featured was Ana Mihaela Stancu, who appeared alongside another model during the presentation. Andreea Lichi was also photographed being accompanied on the catwalk, while wheelchair-using models Adina Toader and Veronica Lungu were pictured together before the show. Anda Arghir was among the participants seen backstage ahead of the event.
Botezatu Showcases Designs in Bucharest
Romanian designer Catalin Botezatu presented his fashion collections at the Atypic Beauty Gala in Bucharest. He attended the preparations ahead of the show, where he was photographed speaking with participants and accompanying a wheelchair-using model during a runway rehearsal.
Photographs taken backstage showed models preparing for the presentation, adjusting their accessories and rehearsing their appearances. A ramp was also used to provide wheelchair access to the catwalk, allowing models with mobility disabilities to participate in the runway presentation alongside other models. The event took place in the Reception Hall of Romania's Palace of Parliament. The programme also featured live music performances.
Campaign Continues To Promote Disability Inclusion
Atypic Beauty has used fashion events and public appearances to raise awareness of disability inclusion and equal participation. The campaign's message centres on the principle that disability should not determine a person's value or limit their opportunities to take part in public and professional life.
The 2026 gala received support from Bucharest's Sector 3 City Hall and Kaufland Romania through its A.C.C.E.S. programme, which focuses on accessibility, inclusion and equal opportunities. The event also brought together personalities from television, theatre, sport and business, alongside artists and fashion participants.
By including wheelchair-using models in a professional fashion presentation, the Atypic Beauty Gala placed disability representation within a mainstream fashion setting. Its latest edition continued the campaign's efforts to promote visibility and equal opportunities through public events. The Bucharest show concluded another edition of the initiative, which has continued to organise activities in Romania and beyond for more than a decade.
