In a world that often puts people in boxes, Antonella Ghonda simply refuses to fit in. She’s not just walking the runway, she's blazing a trail. Taking over the biggest stages in fashion, from New York to Milan and Paris, Antonella is turning heads and breaking down barriers while wearing six-inch heels and a smile that says, “I belong here.”

Born in Belgium to Congolese parents and raised with four older siblings, Antonella grew up surrounded by strength, culture, and creativity. From a young age, fashion was her personal form of expression. “Everybody knew me for having amazing clothes everywhere I went,” she recalls. Her love for style wasn’t just a phase, it was a calling.

That calling led her to apply to a modeling agency, a decision that would change her life forever. Her first major gig? New York Fashion Week. While many spend years grinding to earn that spot, Antonella leapt straight into the spotlight and she hasn’t looked back since.

What makes her rise even more remarkable is her ability to thrive in spaces not designed for her. In an industry that relies heavily on quick communication and fast-paced directions, Antonella shows up, adapts, and shines. She’s often the only person like herself in the room, and she embraces that.

“What sets me apart is that they aren't used to seeing someone like me at prestigious places such as Milan, Paris, New York, and Miami Swim Week,” she explains. “I often show other models that people like me can also succeed and reach great heights in such a short amount of time.”

That’s not just confidence talking, it's experience. Antonella has walked runways across global fashion capitals, handpicked by designers who see her not as a challenge, but as someone with undeniable presence and professionalism. While the fashion world still has a long way to go in terms of accessibility and inclusivity, models like Antonella are pushing that change forward.

Her biggest challenge? Not having an interpreter at the beginning of her career. “At first, it was hard,” she admits. “But I kept manifesting for the industry to become easier and more accessible for me. And I’ve seen so much progress just recently, at New York Fashion Week, I was assigned a sign language interpreter. That meant so much to me.”

That mindset, equal parts vision and unshakable belief is what fuels her. Whether it's being overlooked or facing rejection, Antonella doesn’t crumble. She uses it as fuel. One of her most inspiring stories is about almost being denied a spot at Paris Fashion Week until the designer saw her and personally overruled the casting judges to bring her in. “That rejection turned into my favor,” she says with a grin.

Behind the confidence is a strong mental game. “I stay motivated because I know my inherent worth,” she says. “I’m someone who attracts miracles, no matter what. I trust in the power of my mind to always turn situations around in my favor.”

Her story also highlights how social media is changing the modeling game. “Social media is how I got discovered for Paris Fashion Week,” she says. “It’s made it easier for people like me to be seen. Designers and other models reach out to work with me through social media it’s where so many opportunities start.”

With that visibility, though, comes responsibility. And Antonella takes hers seriously. She’s intentional about staying true to herself online, not molding her image to fit industry stereotypes. “The only way for me to live an authentically fulfilling life is to be so me, to the point that it makes me magnetic. Authenticity is magnetic.”

Her personal style reflects that same philosophy: elegant, sophisticated, and bold. Always in heels, always eye-catching. “My biggest fashion inspiration is honestly myself,” she says. “Right now, I’m loving bold combinations like streetwear paired with high heels. What I’m not loving? Newsie hats and multiple belts. Those trends need to go!”

She dreams big, and she acts fast. In less than two months, she manifested walking the runways of Paris and Milan. Next up on her list? Dior. “It’s a dream that resonates with me fiercely,” she says. “And I know I’ll make it happen.”

Antonella’s goals stretch far beyond modeling. In five years, she hopes to own a fashion modeling agency to scout and mentor aspiring models especially those who might feel overlooked or underestimated. “People often misunderstand models. They think we’re emotionless or we have to act a certain way. But we’re individuals. We have emotions, we have voices whether we speak them or sign them.”

Her advice to those trying to break into the industry? “Have faith in yourself, trust your instincts, and keep a positive mindset. Confidence will carry you far.”

And if she hadn’t become a model? “I would’ve been an esthetician. I actually went to esthetician school and graduated. So that’s still a part of me.”

At the end of the day, Antonella doesn’t just want to be known for what she’s done, she wants to be remembered as someone who climbed to the very top of the fashion world, alongside icons like Naomi Campbell, Kendall Jenner, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Bella Hadid. Not as someone who fit the mold, but as someone who broke it beautifully, unapologetically, and powerfully.

Antonella Ghonda’s disability isn’t slowing her down and she’s shattering fashion norms and dominating the world’s biggest runways with power and purpose.

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