Jasmine Manuel, a 22-year-old entrepreneurship major, is definitely not your average student. Although she suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type 3 and is confined to a power chair, this Kennesaw State senior is a talented powerhouse with many projects under her belt.
Manuel, also known as “Mini Producer,” is a music producer under a label called Starkast Nation. The origin of her name derives from her height, which is 3 feet 4 inches due to her disorder. She has recently received social media attention regarding her talent.
With a “larger than life” personality, she has a massive support system that keeps her humble and grounded.
“They’re super honest. I play my beats a lot, and I’m always given an honest opinion. It’s made me better when it comes to my production,” Manuel says.
Her music production journey began when she played around with a family friend’s music software as a child. It wasn’t until her high school years where she started seeing her hobby become an art.
She then upgraded to FL Studio 11, a music production software, during her freshman year of high school — her software of choice to this day.
Roll Out Fitness, a fitness effort dedicated to those with disabilities, has been another big project for Manuel. She says she was inspired to help people that have dealt with similar situations.
Manuel says that she doesn’t see a lot of people like her working out. The Instagram account @rolloutfitness is meant to inspire and give tips to help people step out. Since its creation, the account has been featured on social media accounts that have well over one million followers.
As its brand ambassador, Manuel chooses to stay in shape to be a motivation to those in her position.
“The coolest thing is that I’ve been able to connect with others who have the same disorder I do and have gotten to listen to their stories,” Manuel says. “I’ve just had fun doing what I love to do and meeting people with a similar passion along the way.”
Manuel also discussed how her and Shaun T, fitness mogul and host of “Insanity” and “T25,” follow each other on Instagram and how working out helps with her mobility.
Manuel chooses to use her opportunities as a platform for awareness of Osteogenesis Imperfecta.
“[There are] four main types. I’ve got the second most severe type. In my case, I’m fun size,” she says. “I’ve had over 100 breaks. I have had more than 20 surgeries. I can’t walk, so I use a power chair.”
Manuel lightheartedly noted that her powerchair goes a maximum of 6 mph, an answer to a question that she says people frequently ask. Manuel also took the opportunity to clear up some other misconceptions about her disorder.
“Even though I break easily, you don’t have to be afraid to touch me. I’m not like that guy on Spongebob where my bones are made of glass,” she says. “Another thing is — don’t feel sorry for me. A lot of times I get people that feel bad for me being in the situation I’m in. I’m a generally a happy person, and there’s nothing to feel bad about.”
When asked about how she wants to be portrayed in media, she humorously added that she wanted to be a positive image and not be “just a person in a wheelchair going 6 mph that hits everyone in sight.”
“Honestly, I’m just living out what I feel is my purpose, as cliche as that may sound,” Manuel says. “I just want to make a positive impact on the world, people in my daily life and anyone I encounter.”
