Being a finalist in Tyra Bank’s “America’s Next Top Model” is an honor in itself, but being on this top reality-based contest while battling a debilitating illness is a noble feat.

This could be what finalist Mercedes Yvette had felt after signing in for the contest clueless that she has a chronic disease that modern science has yet to fully explain. At the young age 21, Mercedes was diagnosed with lupus, and soon she would feel the disease damaging her immune system, terribly affecting her body tissues and organs.

But no sickness can topple Mercedes, and now, seven years after the fateful diagnosis, she has been rallying for the awareness and cure of lupus. This she credits to the exposure she has had in “America’s Next Top Model.” Now that is seeing the positive side of a heavy storm!

Mercedes is now a spokesperson of the Lupus Foundation of America, and this May her noble work brings her to Central New York, where she gives inspiring talks, mobilizing people to support research, clinical trials and funding to combat lupus.
She has learned much since her “America’s Nest Top Model” days, strengthened by the illness itself, and the support she has gotten from all those who witnessed on TV the difficulties she had. Now, she considers herself as the first lupus patient ever to come out strong and proud on national television, as no one had talked about the disease as much as she had, nor has anyone seen a beautiful model on TV losing her hair due to lupus.

The disease is still immobilizing her, but despite her joint pains, sensitivity to sunlight, fatigue, and difficulty in getting out of bed, she continuously inspires people to fight the disease. Mercedes remains a vibrant and inspiring role model after her stint at “Top Model,” having appeared in UPN’s “One on One,” and in CW’s “All of Us” as well as in TV ads for Chili’s Restaurant, Volkswagen and Ross Dress For Less. True enough, she remains confident in saying, “You may have lupus but don’t let lupus define who you are.”