Photos: Australian model with Down’s syndrome makes strides worldwide
Updated On Sep 20, 2018 12:20 PM IST
With more than 60 catwalks under her belt in cities including London, New York, Paris and Dubai, Madeline Stuart’s disability has not appeared to be a hindrance. While attending an annual fashion parade in her hometown of Brisbane, Australia, in 2015 Madeline, who lives with Down’s syndrome, turned to her mother and firmly announced that she would like to be a model. In the years since, she has walked the ramp across fashion’s biggest circuits and has even become the first person with Down's syndrome to ever stride down a runway as a model during New York Fashion Week.
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Updated on Sep 20, 2018 12:20 PM IST
Rosanne Stuart recalls attending an annual fashion parade with her daughter, Madeline (C), in their hometown of Brisbane, Australia, in 2015. In the midst of the high-energy glamour on the runway, Madeline, who has limited speech, turned to her mother and firmly announced that she would like to be a model. (Andrew Kelly / REUTERS)
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Stuart, 46, who described her daughter as the kind of tomboy who would slip on a pair leggings and “throw football with the guys,” said that it wasn’t something she expected, but immediately supported. More than four years later, Madeline, now 21, is the first person with Down’s syndrome to ever stride down a runway as a model during New York Fashion Week. (Andrew Kelly / REUTERS)
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Rosanne Stuart attempts to cover her daughter from falling rain as they walk to a show. With more than 60 catwalks under her belt in cities including London, Paris and Dubai, Madeline’s disability has not appeared to be a hindrance. “When she walked that first catwalk every single person in the audience appreciated her,” Stuart said. “It truly was the first time she was accepted.” (Andrew Kelly / REUTERS)
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Madeline Stuart (C) is prepared backstage before the Lulu Et Gigi presentation at New York Fashion Week. Madeline’s drive has not let up this year. She just finished strutting down the runway for seven designers during the 2018 New York Fashion Week and is continuing the fashion circuit to walk for seven more designers during London Fashion Week. (Andrew Kelly / REUTERS)
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Madeline Stuart prepares backstage of the Soiree show at London Fashion Week. Like most models, Madeline starts off her day with a healthy breakfast then proceeds to her outfit fittings, gets her strawberry blonde hair and make-up done and prepares for her next runway appearance. (Andrew Kelly / REUTERS)
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Madeline Stuart backstage before walking the Burning Guitars runway. Between her shows, Madeline is usually curled up with her iPad, surfing the web or video-chatting for hours with her boyfriend Robbie, who also has an intellectual disability. They met during Special Olympic Games in Australia more than four years ago. (Andrew Kelly / REUTERS)
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Madeline walks onto the catwalk for the Colleen Morris presentation during London Fashion Week. Before pursuing modelling, Madeline was struggling with being overweight, an experience that Rosanne says many people with Down’s syndrome face. Madeline expressed an interest in getting in shape because of a heart condition and her overall health. (Andrew Kelly / REUTERS)
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Madeline Stuart walks in the Swedish School of Textiles show at London Fashion Week. Stuart in 2015 uploaded photos of Madeline’s weight loss on social media to encourage other people with disabilities. The post quickly went viral, earning more than 7.2 million online views in a week and news coverage in about 150 countries, Stuart said. (Andrew Kelly / REUTERS)
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Madeline Stuart stands among models backstage after walking in the Burning Guitars presentation during New York Fashion Week. Within a month of going viral, South African fashion designer Hendrik Vermeulen asked Madeline to model in his New York Fashion Week show, marking the beginning of her modelling career. (Andrew Kelly / REUTERS)
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Madeline sits at the Remedy Diner with her mother and manager Rosanne Stuart after walking in a runway show during New York Fashion Week. Stuart said that a few critics have implied that she is pushing Madeline to pursue modelling, calling her a “dance mom.” But the mother says that those who think modelling is not Madeline’s choice do not know anything about Down’s syndrome. (Andrew Kelly / REUTERS)
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Updated on Sep 20, 2018 12:20 PM IST