When Madeline ‘Maddy’ Stuart, 18, from Brisbane told her mum she wanted to be a model, it came as no surprise.
Maddy had always been vivacious, she was an energetic young woman who never took ‘no’ for an answer, and always pushed herself to try new things – and modelling was no exception.
After swimming for years, training with the cricket team for the Special Olympics, and dancing hip-hop in LA, Maddy set her sights on her new challenge, modelling. A change, her mother said, was as natural as can be.
“Maddy is so confident, she has no hang ups, she is more than happy to parade around the house showing me how gorgeous she is with her hand up behind her head swaying her hips as if to say ‘look at me’,” said mum, Roseanne, “She loves the attention when she is up on the stage, doing a play or competing in gymnastics or cheer, and I have always taken millions of photos of her so she loves the camera.”
But it wasn’t always an easy path for Maddy.
“Her doctors told me she would never achieve anything. When she was first at school, on the sports day some of the parents didn’t want her to compete as they wanted their child’s team to win,” said Roseanne.
But Maddy isn’t about to let anything stop her – let alone Down syndrome. She wants to work towards changing the stigmas around her condition, and changing the minds of everyone who doubted her.
“I think it is time people realised that people with Down syndrome can be sexy and beautiful and should be celebrated,” said Roseanne.
“Maybe Maddy can stop people feeling that way. If the average person could see the beauty Maddy has inside, how loving and caring she is and if that is what people measured beauty on, then most of the models in the world would have Down syndrome.”
“Only when she gets lots of attention through social media will the modelling world look at her, this is unfortunate but true and she really wants to change the way people discriminate against disability.”
“People with Down syndrome can do anything, they just do it at their own pace. Give them a chance and you will be rewarded beyond your greatest expectations.”
“A lot of people look at me and feel sorry for me because they see Maddy and think it is such a big job, which it can be, but I walk up the street and I actually feel sad for people who will never experience the unconditional love of someone like Maddy.”
“I look at Maddy who thinks I am actually a super hero, who throws herself in my arms every afternoon when I pick her up and I think how lucky am I that my daughter is so proud of me and just wants the world to know I am her mum.”
“I feel so blessed to have a daughter like Maddy, I won lotto the day she was born.”
Maddy joins fellow Down Syndrome actress and model, Jamie Brewer.
Jamie modelled New York Fashion Week last year, in the Carrie Hammer show.
Maddy also joins, 10-month-old, Valentina Guerrero.
And six-year-old, Ryan Langston (left).
As well as Seb White, four.
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