Carly Findlay

Carly Findlay (born 1981) is an Australian writer, speaker, and online influencer.

Findlay describes herself as an 'appearance activist', and has been outspoken on a number of disability-related issues.

She has been particularly vocal on the right to privacy of children with a disability as well as the importance of representation and inclusion of disabled people both in general life, and particularly in fashion.

Findlay makes use of social media to document her love of fashion, food, as well as the treatment and ableism she faces because she has ichthyosis, a genetic disorder that affects her skin and hair.

She has built a business and personal brand around being disabled

Findlay's parents courted illegally for four years in South Africa during the Apartheid and moved to Australia in order to marry in 1981.

Her mother Jeanette was classified as coloured South African, while her father Roger was an Englishman.

Findlay was born on 8 December 1981 in Albury, New South Wales, three weeks pre-mature and was diagnosed with a form of the genetic disease ichthyosis: congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma.

The Findlay family moved from Albury to a small village Walla Walla before she started preschool.

Findlay attended Walla Walla Primary School and when she was 10 years old was diagnosed with a different form of ichthyosis, Netherton syndrome through genetic testing.

Findlay attended Murray High School in Albury and, during her final year, started working at a local Kmart department store.

Findlay recalls feeling more comfortable with hospital staff than her fellow students.

Findlay studied at La Trobe University in Wodonga and in 2002 graduated with a Bachelor of eCommerce.

She moved to Melbourne in 2003 to work for the Australian Public Service and completed her Masters of Communication from RMIT University from 2005 to 2012.

From February 2003 to November 2017, Findlay was employed by the Australian Tax Department and from September 2016 to May 2017, held the position of Communication Coordinator for People with Disability Australia Inc.

Findlay was a writer from a young age, and started her self-titled blog in 2009.

Findlay's blog details significant events in her life, her experience of life with ichthyosis, and her commentary as an appearance activist.

In 2012 and 2013, Findlay had three encounters with taxi drivers which led her to make a complaint to the Victorian Taxi Commission and the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The drivers in questions refused to transport Findlay, making comments on her appearance, alleged intoxication, and smell, and claiming she would damage their vehicle.

After the third incident, Findlay lodged a complaint with the taxi company as did the hotel concierge who booked the taxi for her.

When no action was taken, she complained to the Victorian Taxi Commission and the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Findlay has had a number of speaking gigs, both individually and as a part of event panels including Women of Letters, opening for Julia Gillard at Layne Beachley's Women in Leadership luncheon, Progress 2017, University of Western England, ProBlogger, Melbourne Writers Festival, Emerging Writers Festival, Dangerous Ideas around Disability and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Findlay also regularly appears on podcasts and radio programs.

Findlay has made a number of media appearances that placed her in the spotlight.

In 2017 Findlay appeared on the ABC television series You Can't Ask That and Cyber Hate with Tara Moss, and in 2018 she appeared on Channel Ten's The Project in response to an interview with Jon Faine on ABC Radio.

On 28 March 2018, Findlay had appeared on ABC Radio's morning show to discuss microaggressions and disability.

During the interview, the host Jon Faine described Findlay as looking like a “burns victim” and having a face that wouldn't “be good at Halloween”, before asking about her sex life.

Faine's line of questioning has been described by commentators and the public as “offensive”, “disrespectful” and “inappropriate”, while they described Findlay's reaction as “composed” and “polite”.

Faine later apologised.

The incident was later cited by former ABC boss Michelle Guthrie as causative to her being sacked by the ABC Board.

Guthrie appealed the decision to fire her and reached an out of court settlement with the ABC.

Findlay attributes most of her success to her appearance on You Can't Ask That.

In 2018, Findlay started promoting her upcoming book at a number of writers festivals across Australia, including the Feminist Writers Festival, Bendigo Writers Festival and at five events during the Melbourne Writers Festival, including a spoken word performance as part of the Quippings: Disability unleashed theatre group.

Findlay is currently employed in the role of Access and Inclusion Coordinator for the Melbourne Fringe Festival one day a week as well as providing customised disability awareness, social media and blogging training to organisations.

She co-hosts a podcast called Refreshments Provided with Jason Scott Watkins.

As a self-proclaimed fashion lover, Findlay was unhappy with the lack of representation people with disabilities have in the media and fashion landscape.

Propelled by her own experience of exclusion and elitism in fashion, in July 2018 she announced the first-ever disability-inclusive event to be held as part of Melbourne Fashion Week which was staged away from the main event.

"We're not treated the same when we go into stores. For me, I am sometimes not even spoken to. They think I am not going to want their clothes or their service, or they might be embarrassed to be seen with me,” Findlay said.

'Access to Fashion - Disability on the Runway: an Exploration of Disability Inclusion in the Fashion Industry' was held on 1 September 2018, and included a panel discussion as well as a runway show.

It featured a number of models and fashion designers with disabilities.