Model with Down Syndrome Stuns in Gucci's Vogue Italia Campaign
What’s new: Ellie Goldstein, an 18-year-old model with Down syndrome, is starring in a Gucci Beauty campaign on Vogue Italia’s website. Gucci chose Goldstein for its campaign after she entered an Instagram scouting project named #TheGucciBeautyGlitch. After Gucci Beauty shared a photo of Goldstein on Instagram, Goldstein shared in the replies how the experience was for her.
I love this. Thank you for this amazing opportunity and a fabulous day shooting. — Ellie Goldstein, Instagram
Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele told The Independent about the product Goldstein was rocking for their campaign. “I designed L’Obscur mascara for an authentic person who uses make-up to tell their story of freedom, in their way.”
The Frontlines: While the fashion industry has not historically been inclusive to models with disabilities, including Goldstein and other models with Down syndrome in campaigns and on the catwalk is a step in the right direction.
- Madeline Stuart, another model with Down syndrome, became the face of everMaya and walked at New York Fashion Week when she was also 18 years old.
- Zebedee Management, which represents Goldstein, also represented the aspiring male supermodel Jack B, who was featured in The Mighty in 2018.
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A Mighty Voice: Our contributor Denise Deschenes-McKay shared with us what it’s like to be told that her child with Down syndrome is not capable of pursuing his passion. “His greatest barrier, it seems, is other people’s preconceived notions of his abilities.” You can submit your first person story, too.
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Other things to know: The inclusion of people with disabilities in media and the fashion industry benefits everyone, and helps make disabled people more included in our world. Check out these articles from The Mighty on why disability inclusion is important:
- How Superstars With Disabilities Make the World Better for All
- How These Models With Disabilities Are Redefining Beauty
- Why Fashion and Style Should Be Part of Social Justice for People With Disabilities
How to take action: If you want to see more superstars like Goldstein in the fashion world, you can encourage brands to be more inclusive to models with Down syndrome and those with other disabilities. In the meantime, check out these other models with Down syndrome.
Image by David PD Hyde via Gucci Beauty/Vogue Italia
Julia Métraux is a health and culture writer whose work has appeared in Narratively, The Tempest, BUST, and Briarpatch Magazine. Follow her on Twitter at @metraux_julia and on Instagram @julia.metraux
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