Adeshola Akanji, a UK-based wellbeing advocate, public speaker, and model dedicated to raising awareness for individuals with long-term health conditions and disabilities, including hidden and neurodiverse conditions. With over 16 years of experience in the NHS, she has made substantial contributions to healthcare transformation. Currently, she serves as the Outpatient Transformation and Efficiency Project Manager and volunteers as Co-Chair of a leading NHS Disability Network, Wellbeing Champion, and Inclusion Ambassador. In these roles, she champions inclusive recruitment, workplace accessibility, and equitable career progression. As a coach, mentor, and freelance public speaker under Ultimate Royal UK, Adeshola empowers diverse audiences on topics such as disability empowerment, mental health, neurodiversity, and self-advocacy. Her dedication to health and disability advocacy earned her a nomination for the Barts Heroes Award.

Though modeling was a childhood aspiration, personal circumstances delayed her pursuit of this dream. However, through resilience and dedication, Adeshola has achieved significant milestones in professional modeling and pageantry over the past year. Her collaborations include TS Studios, Ella Studio, and Paulina Branding Photography, with features in Marika, Claire, YES, Moevir, and Trench magazines. She has walked at London Fashion Week, partnered with WildMint Cosmetics, and had a photograph exhibited at The Louvre in Paris. Her titles include Miss British Beauty 2024/25, with finalist placements in Miss Glamour UK and Miss Pride of Africa UK. Adeshola’s advocacy extends to impactful speaking engagements, from NHS webinars and the Disability Summit to podcasts and national campaigns. She is a 2025 Integrity Award model and will participate in the 7th Annual Integrity Awards runway and the “My Cultural Style” Fashion Show. As a panel speaker for PRECIOUS (a platform for women of color) and a member of Divas with Disabilities, she amplifies representation for Black and Brown women with disabilities in media and civic engagement. Her work with the ME Association’s REAL ME campaign sheds light on living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).