Madeline Stuart might not be the first name that pops into your head when thinking of supermodels, but prepare for that to change. Despite being one of the only women in the industry to have Down Syndrome, Stuart is gaining numerous endorsements, walking in many high-profile runway shows and ultimately showing the world that her disability can't slow her down!
Meet Madeline Stuart.
The 18 year old is from Brisbane, Australia.
She’s an aspiring model who happens to have Down syndrome.
Her mission is to help change the way society views models with disabilities and our overall perceptions of beauty.
She says she struggled with her weight growing up but felt more confident in herself after she became a cheerleader.
This helped her gain the motivation to try her hand at modeling.
Her mother Rosanne is very supportive of her dreams.
She’s quickly proving to the world that high-profile beauty comes in many forms.
Although not everyone was supportive at first…
Her mother recalls a time when people suggested that Madeline shouldn’t be in the modeling industry.
“Her doctors told me that she would never achieve anything,” Rosanne said.
“People with Down syndrome can do anything. They just do it at their own pace.”
Madeline was recently booked to walk during New York Fashion Week this fall.
This makes her just the second model with Down syndrome to ever take the catwalk during Fashion Week.
She will model for FTL Moda on September 13th.
She also has a future campaign with EverMaya.
They even named a designer handbag collection in her honor.
You go Madeline! Do your thing!