Hannah Diviney made history in 2022 when she became the first person with a disability to film a sex scene for Australian television. Then she went viral when she confronted both Lizzo and Beyonce over an ableist slur in their song lyrics.
When Hannah was growing up, the only people she saw on TV who used a wheelchair like her were Paralympians or in Road Safety ads.
Hannah spent a lot of her childhood feeling lonely and left out, though she was sure she wanted to be a writer when she grew up.
She was still at pre-school when she realised that names on the front of books belonged to the people who had written them.
It was also around this time when Hannah became aware that her body didn’t work in the same way as her friends at childcare.
Hannah has since started the Krazy Kosci Klimb, which supports young people with Cerebral Palsy to climb Australia's highest peak.
Hannah always knew representation was important for young, disabled people like her to be reflected in pop culture and to belong.
So she wrote to Disney, requesting they create their first princess who uses a wheelchair.
That petition secured Hannah's first job in journalism with Mamamia — at the age of 15.
She has since made history, becoming the first person with a disability to film a sex scene for Australian television.
in 2022, Hannah went unexpectedly viral for confronting musician Lizzo about an ableist slur in her song lyrics.
Several weeks later, Beyonce used the same slur, and Hannah realised she had to take on the biggest pop star in the world.
Further information
Hannah’s collection of autobiographical essays, I’ll Let Myself In is published by Allen & Unwin.
This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan.
Conversations' Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.
Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.
