Victoria Ann Online (2026)

27/02/2024

I feel it’s fair to say that the majority of non disabled people only see visual disabilities as ‘real’ disability; and that this impacts how we are treated from Doctors to Government to friends and family.

Disability is such a huge and broad spectrum which is why so much advocacy has to go on to make changes to attitudes, mindset and stigma.

Years ago, on entry to a nightclub but with my weekly pill container in my bag I had a tense interaction with the bouncers- I was happy for them to hold on to my pill container but I had to stress I would need it back when I left.. In the end my anger led me to flashing my fresh abdominal scars as the reason I had the pills and the bouncer then backed off- not the right thing for me to do, not the right way they had made me feel either.

In queues for the accessible bathrooms in multiple places I have had to question the length of the queue- always with understanding but vocalising that unless the queue is full of genuine people with non apparent disabilities they need to leave and use a different bathroom sorry if the queue is longer etc.

I think the media also has a part to play in this; the demonisation of this community is not new but it has crept up. I hate how people think disability benefit is 1. Easy to get and 2. Commonly fraudulently claimed. Neither of those points are true and yet headlines and policies are lining up to accuse us being scroungers, liars or both.

The simplest thing to do would be: believe us when we say we are disabled. It’s not exactly a picnic and so few people would lie about it the human thing to do is believe us and not ask for proof or medical history because we don’t owe you either.

If that last sentence angers you- I want you to examine why.

Why you would believe you’re entitled to personal information from any one, especially around something as deeply personal as disability?
I could write an essay on this topic I’ll have to revisit it.

ID: White fabric draped across a great background with black text in multiple fonts laid over that says ‘what do you know about hidden disabilities’

08/02/2024

I am still on an emotional high from last night!

The entire performance for was breathtaking.. I had tears in my eyes the moment the lights went down.

But nothing will beat watching Denecia from performing with in her bespoke costume; I need the video footage because my eyesight was somewhat watery for the whole piece..

As someone who wanted to be a ballerina, being able to have a small part of myself on that stage in in this way was very profound for me.

A monumental thank you to for making the dress.

thank you for coordinating everything and joining me in some stone gluing ☺️

Finally thank you for putting me in touch with Juliet at I can’t wait to see what we do next.. 👀

My jumper is from no idea on the jeans and shoes are from but off

ID: Denicia and I are in front of a rack of clothes samples. I am a white woman wearing head to toe black and white slip on shoes. Denecia is a black woman with mauve, blonde and brown long braids in a manual wheelchair wearing a teal coloured dress with matching sparkles. We both have grins on our faces.

01/02/2024

Starting February 2024 strong!

This morning I got to go to the top of .bank to launch in partnership with and a host of amazing to work together to see how we can better support the community (whether they work or not I hasten to add was part of my speech)

To be a co chair and hopefully help move the dial on positive representation and inclusion whilst removing as many barriers as possible for the next generation is.. A pinch me moment.

There are amazing people on the steering board with me and the audience was full of incredible people and also a lot of friendly faces- got to meet some people in real life for the first time!

I then had to head home and lie down as my pain was quite high today and it’s been one heck of a week.

I will share more about what our plans are over the next few days and weeks but please do follow and reach out to learn more ways to be involved in the mean time!

Thank you to every single person involved from organising to access to comms and more; there’s a long road but we’re doing it together with what I hope are the best intentions.

ID: I am stood behind a podium on the far left of the image wearing a blue .uk shirt and red lipstick. Behind me to the right is a screen with symbols in shades of blue and purple and text saying the lilac review.

29/01/2024

Right.. This is an incredibly tough post so C/W ableism, genocide, su***de, trauma.

In April 2022 I did a TedX talk where I discussed what happened in WW2 (search aktion4 if you’re feeling brave) which was bad enough.

I also talked about what was happening in Ukraine as I sat there- children being treated for cancer were hiding in the basements of hospitals with nurses.. Elderly and disabled people unable to evacuate and simply being left to die alone.

The review in to evacuation plans after (not a conflict but certainly a hazardous, life threatening event) concluded that the emergency services were right to leave behind disabled and less mobile people.

Before any one chimes in with a response saying this is ok- let me say that to value one life, any life, above another is to lose our humanity, in my opinion.

Once we start saying one person is better to save than another..
Well, we are literally watching the consequences happen in real time now, in several countries around the world.

What is happening in Pale stine is abhorrent, what happened in the lead up also abhorrent- life should be sacred whether we are religious or not.

We are watching however as people become disabled, become amputees or burn victims or mentally so shattered with no anaesthesia or pain relief or food or water so they’ll be dying of infection and starvation or su***de in all likelihood.

It is bleak. It has always been bleak for our community in conflict- whilst that conflict only swells our numbers.

And then we are discarded- look at how we treat army veterans. How many of them are homeless and also disabled? Not just in the U.K. but around the world.

I don’t have a solution but war and conflict always always disproportionately affects this community and especially within the intersection of ethnicity and gender..

‘Society’ should be more evolved than this.

ID: A grey tile with white draped folds across it has black text laid over it saying ‘what do you know about disability and conflict’.

16/01/2024

Pain post
C/W Medical trauma, pain.

**Not an invitation to unsolicited medical advice ♥️ I will not respond to DMs or comments like this**

Living with chronic pain is one heck of a complex ride- still so grossly misunderstood, with a lot of nuance- too much for 1 caption so hoping we chat respectfully in the comments too.

I self discharged from the pain clinic I waited 4 years to get an appointment with; after 2 apts where they offered ridiculously strong pain killers that I couldn’t take whilst working, to then only be offered was group therapy, 3 hours a week, in working hours, for 3 months.. Sigh.

I’d love to talk myself out of pain, believe me I have tried but I have to be frank here- guidelines, medical misinformation, gaslighting and racism on pain treatment have inflicted damage on us all.
A lot of research on managing pain is geared more towards men than women too.

One of my conditions accounts for 30% of pain in women presenting to a gynaecologist and yet it isn’t treated by the NHS.
So I went private thanks to massive financial help from my Mum and do you know what pain relief I was given while rods were inserted via a tube in my neck down to my pelvis?

A ball to bite down on.
This was 2021.

So now my pain management consists of heat pads, breathing techniques, holistic methods or products when I can afford them.
Strong pain pills are reserved for when I have filming, events or meetings that cannot be rescheduled- and the days when I cannot stand up straight.

We can’t see pain so few people (even amongst friends and family) can tell when I am seriously struggling because I do my best to carry on- but the cost of that is the fatigue and resentment that can build when people forget your pain.. That is being hidden.. To not be a burden.

Ooof a hard post and so much more I want to say. Will have to address in a blog 🤣

If you read this far- well done.

ID: Grey tile with draped white fabric. Black text says what do you know about pain management in a hand writing font.

04/01/2024

First day back in the office for 2024 so I have given my vision board a refresh- where there is a tile that has stayed I have written words over it or moved it to see if that makes a difference.

I feel ‘better’ simply for writing them down and I firmly believe the reinforcement of looking at this everyday helps open me to opportunities that lead to these outcomes.

I also came in to a pile of late Xmas parcels so a lovely job for tomorrow is directing those where they were meant- January gifting should be a thing anyway it makes things so much cheaper/ less pressured- I still have my small business guide in my bio please check them out! And comment below other businesses you love please- I like to explore and share as much as possible.

ID: Photo of a framed poster with 9 tiles each depicting different goals from beach holidays to spas to vogue front covers.

03/01/2024

Feel a bit like I am limping in to 2024… Or more accurately, pre exhausted/ overwhelmed already..
(And let’s throw anxious in there too)

I didn’t do a big end of year wrap- despite it hands down being one of the best years of my life- because it just feels a bit.. Awkward. Maybe I’ll brave a reel once the first week of Jan is out of the way.

What you don’t know, that I do, is what is coming next and seriously 2024 is going to be a year of life changes.

Big ones, great ones, scary ones… Digging deep in to my reserves of courage for it all.

Excited to take you all on the journey- for now I just hope you have had some rest and love and are feeling as good as you can.
I’m in the crew this year!

♥️

ID: I am reclining on my sofa with my arm over my head, I have a half eye open pouting at the camera. No make up or filter.

24/12/2023

Merry Christmas!

I’m not sure I’ll have the energy for a years round up because this year has been full to bursting with amazing experiences and milestone moments as well as loss and a dip in my physical health.

I know what’s coming in 2024 and THAT is making me pre- fatigued (work life balance on the vision board for next year)

Being part of real, tangible change is always the motivator and goodness me things are set to change.

However you’re spending the next few days I hope you get exactly what you need and want to from a festive break.

📸
👗 .uk (custom)
🎄

ID: Close up of me with my face very close to a Christmas tree with multi coloured baubles on it. I have a red silk high neck dress on and I’m looking off to the right.

14/12/2023

This year more than ever I am channeling my inner grinch- not helped by the terrible things happening around the world tbh but maybe we should all hold each other that much closer while we can..

I have spent the last few years exhausted and/ or unwell by the end of the holidays- unable to do all the things, see all the people, eat all the food..

Whilst feeling guilty/ sick/ stressed and rushing round various venues/ different towns, villages and cities.. It’s hard to say no to loved ones.

There is an expectation to put aside yourself to be with others and THAT is the hardest part of this time of year; being chronically sick and disabled means having to ‘be selfish’ (ie have boundaries and respect what you yourself need) and that shouldn’t come with judgement.

Add to that the inaccessibility of most venues, transport, the cost of living crisis and how we socialise particularly in the U.K. with alcohol and food and it is a recipe for disaster.
Tips to get through:

🎄Remind yourself and others that it’s only *you* living in your body and you NEED your body and mind to be well more than you need a trek cross country/ to eat an extra slice/ go to a work do out of hours/ do anything at all that compromises your wants and needs.

🎄Pace yourself; stagger events and travel where possible, plan for rest and take it even if you feel well.

🎄Pack snacks and back up safe foods as well as your medicines so you don’t run out if there is a train strike/ you get stuck somewhere.

🎄Set boundaries as soon as you can- it might make next year even easier.

🎄HAVE FUN where you can!

🎄Remember you are here. You are present. Your body may be a 💩 but it has also got you to this point and the people around you are better for knowing you.

What other tips would you add to this list?

ID: Grey background with white tulle draped across it. Black text over says what do you know about festive holidays and disability?

08/12/2023

I had the best morning today, shooting .uk at which is THE best place to get coffee in London (massively biased and still true)

A huge thank you to everyone at Faor shot from their trainees to their graduates to the unsuspecting public who were enjoying a spot of breakfast while and had multiple outfit changes and snapped away for a solid 2 hours.

Thank you wonderful .uk team .rudraksh__ and

I’m popping a link in my bio to their Christmas gifts because they have some truly gorgeous hampers if you need some inspiration for presents that also have social impact.

Can’t wait to see the finished photos!

ID: Photo of the front of a cafe in Covent Garden called Fair Shot the windows are festively dressed and members of the public and Unhidden team can be seen inside preparing outfits and props. The facade is matte black.

05/12/2023

Possibly my favourite picture from last Mondays’ shoot 🤣 A week later and I am still paying physically for the daft poses but I still think it was worth it.

📸
jumpsuit
shoes
Award

ID: I am lying on a red sofa against a wooden wall background wearing a black jumpsuit and I have one leg extended straight up showing a sparkly mule shoe while I deadpan look down at a glass award.

03/12/2023

Its International Day of Persons With Disabilities // IDPWD

(Have never liked the name of this day 🤣)

Which means it is ALSO 💜

Now in its third year, are back with a new gorgeous retro design made with

Proceeds go towards supporting disabled entrepreneurs in their businesses so this is not just a lovely, soft pair of socks- they are social impact you can wear!

You can buy in bundles now too which is awesome.

They make great gifts and stocking fillers; I bought pairs for my siblings last year and used them in a shoot for .uk and 💜

The more that are sold the more support and resources there will be to help people achieve their business goals- let’s break last years sales record!

ID 1: the lower half of my legs are resting on my grey sofa and I have purple socks on with some white and orange detailing along the back and a diamond logo on the top of the sock.

ID 2: Promotional image of me and who is a black man in a power chair with a mostly purple background with text over the top saying purple socks day sustainable style with social impact and an orange diamond in the lower right with white text over it saying £6.

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Victoria Ann Online

27/02/2024

08/02/2024

01/02/2024

29/01/2024

16/01/2024

04/01/2024

03/01/2024

24/12/2023

14/12/2023

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