Shannon Murray is the UK's first and most successful disabled model; she was paralysed at the age of 14 as the result of a diving accident whilst on holiday. She returned to school after leaving Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injuries Unit and went on to complete a Law degree at University. At 18 she won the UK’s first ever disabled modelling competition "Model in a Million" launched by agent Louise Dyson at VisABLE People and mobility company Sunrise Medical, held in 1994, it was the first competition to find disabled people suitable to model. This achievement lead to many TV appearances, press interviews, magazine editorials and advertising campaigns, both in the UK, USA and throughout Europe.

Naturally articulate, intelligent and media aware, she also became a spokesperson for many issues surrounding spinal cord injury and disability in the media. Over the years since the competition many opportunities have arisen, including the chance to pursue her first love, acting. Shannon attended Anna Scher drama school from an early age but was discouraged from following an acting career after her accident; in 2000 she secured her first role as the female lead in short film for Channel 4. Since then she has completed training at the Central School of Speech & Drama, and the Actors Centre and has had a number of both acting and presenting roles.

For over 15 years Shannon has been involved with fundraising events on behalf of the Spinal Injuries Association and the Spinal Research Trust, guest speaking to encourage donations at large events, attending press photo calls and numerous live television interviews. This has lead to other diverse engagements as a keynote speaker on varied aspects of disability and image; to guests at British Telecom, Leonard Cheshire, Metropolitan Police, Naidex, National Network of Advisors and Teachers of Physically Impaired Pupils, as well as lecturing medical students at University College London.

Shannon has been an active spokesperson on disability matters both on screen and in print, discussing on screen representation and positive perceptions of disability and beauty in the media as well as the social and cultural problems faced by disabled people. She has also written a number of published articles on diverse aspects and experiences of acquiring a disability and adjusting to a new body image.

She is currently involved with a spinal injuries rehabilitation charity, ‘Back Up’, she volunteers as a mentor to young people who have recently suffered a spinal cord injury, visiting them monthly in their spinal unit to discuss some of her own experiences as a paraplegic teenager and answer any questions they may feel unable to discuss with anyone else. Shannon also visits mainstream schools to speak to young children about disability and encourages them to celebrate differences rather than censure them.

In 2010 Shannon became the first disabled model to feature in a high street fashion campaign when she appeared in advertising for Debenhams Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter ranges.

She is also a passionate supporter of the organisation Body Gossip which campaigns for better representation of all body shapes, sizes and issues. Please read more here: www.bodygossip.org/

Shannon still has a continued enthusiasm for challenging and changing perceptions of disabled people, striving to reinforce the idea that disabled women are as intelligent, funny, beautiful, independent and sexy as their able bodied sisters. She strongly believes that positive and realistic representation in the media is also the way forward to a higher regard of disability in society.