Model with Down syndrome becomes first to front a beauty campaign
Katie Meade wants to inspire everyone to feel beautiful.
A beauty brand has become the first to have a person with Down syndrome front its campaign.
32-year-old Katie Meade from Iowa, who’s never modelled before, will be the face of a new hair care line called Fearless for Beauty & Pin-Ups.
She told BuzzFeed: “I’m confident in myself. I want to inspire everybody to feel good about themselves, like I do right now. I want to share my story of what being fearless means to me.
“I want people to know that beauty belongs to everyone.”
She says that she’s been influenced by her two sisters and auntie, who also love fashion and they all advise each other when they’re getting ready to go out.
On the company’s website, it describes how the model has battled heart surgery and also won a gold medal at the 1999 Special Olympics.
Katie is now an international spokesperson for Best Buddies, a non-profit organisation that helps create opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as job skills and independence.
It was through this charity she met the CEO of Beauty & Pin-Ups, who instantly took a liking to the 4ft 10 inch star.
What an inspiration!