Katie Meade Becomes First Model With Down Syndrome to Land Beauty Campaign
Katie Meade, 32, is the new face of Beauty & Pin-Ups, and this marks the first time a woman with Down syndrome has been featured in an ad campaign for a beauty product, according to People.
“Katie is a role model for people of all ages, disability or no disability, because beauty belongs to everyone,” the brand wrote on its Facebook page.
The brand named its new “Fearless” hair product after Meade, according to a video on its website. Beauty & Pin-Ups CEO Kenny Kahn told People he’d met Meade though Best Buddies International, an organization that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing opportunities for socialization and employment. Meade is an ambassador for Best Buddies International; when you purchase any Beauty & Pin-Ups product, a portion of the proceeds go to the organization.
When you purchase any Beauty & Pin-Ups product, a portion of the proceeds goes right to Best Buddies International, an…
Posted by Beauty & Pin-Ups on Wednesday, March 30, 2016
“It’s pretty cool because I love being a part of the Beauty & Pin-ups family, and I love being apart of Best Buddies and interacting with people,” Meade told People. “People see me for who I am and they see me not as someone with a disability, but that I have ability. And I like to try new different things and I inspire women to do that.”
“Katie is a stunningly beautiful young woman who appears to be a natural in front of the camera,” Beth Sullivan, Chair of the International Down Syndrome Coalition, told The Mighty. “I expect to see a lot more of this young woman.”
“Katie is the most recent model with Down syndrome to make headlines,” Sullivan added. “These models are putting Down syndrome in the spotlight and showing the world how capable and beautiful they are while simultaneously demonstrating that people with Down syndrome are competent and useful members of society and can add value to businesses and workplaces.”
Have you seen the first film with a national release to star a person with Down syndrome? Check out the film “Where Hope Grows” today!