Model With Down’s Syndrome, Madeline Stuart To Participate In New York Fashion Week
By Jennifer McShane
16th Aug 2015
16th Aug 2015
An Australian model with Down’s Syndrome is making waves in the fashion industry and for those with disabilities. Eighteen-year-old model Madeline Stuart took to her Instagram to announce that she will be taking part in the esteemed New York Fashion Week (NYFW).
The reason this is such momentous news is because organisers have said that Madeline is only the second person with Down’s Syndrome ever to take part in the fashion event.
We think this is brilliant news, as we’re all for shaking up the boundaries of the fashion world in the nicest way possible.
The 18-year-old, who has over 430,000 followers on Facebook, will model for FTL Moda, who used models with various mobility levels and amputees for its AW2015 show earlier this year. On her Facebook page, she said: “I hope through modelling I can change societies view of people with disabilities, creating awareness, acceptance and inclusion.”
FTL Moda confirmed with “the utmost joy and pride” that Madeline would be featured in its 13th September presentation.
The beautiful model’s career seems to be just getting started, as she has landed two campaigns in the last month alone, according to The Huffington Post. Madeline posted the news of her NYFW on social media (she originally was discovered thanks to her Instagram account), and the news has been greeted with positive praise ever since.
She will be following in the footsteps of American Horror Story actress Jamie Brewer, who made history earlier this year as the first ever model with Down’s syndrome to hit the NYFW catwalk. Though she gets a mass of support from all the followers and fans, it’s her mother Rosanne who is her biggest fan. ?I think it is time people realised that people with Down syndrome can be sexy and beautiful and should be celebrated,? she told Buzzfeed. Perfectly put.
On a slightly more personal note, as someone who also has a disability in the form of Cerebral Palsy, this writer is particularly thrilled with this news. Here’s hoping we see more models of various mobility levels taking part in mainstream fashion events in the future.
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