Madeline Stuart, 18, an Australian fashion model with Downs Syndrome in one of her publicity shots on her social media sites.

By Frank Walker

Madeline Stuart is about to fulfil the dream of every aspiring young model and make her debut appearance on the catwalk at the prestigious New York Fashion Week.
Having Downs Syndrome doesn’t faze the bubbly and determined red-haired 18-year-old from Brisbane.
Twelve months ago the Australian teen discovered she loved the cameras, lights and attention when she posed in some fashionable teen clothes and told her mother Rosanne she wanted to be a model.
Neither Rosanne nor Madeline saw her disability as a hindrance. She got stuck into a fitness and training programme to prepare herself like any model or athlete.
She lost 20 kilograms and posted some professionally taken photos on her Facebook site. The reaction was amazing with the photos going viral with 390,000 likes and fans from all over the world writing in to encourage her to pursue her dream.
The huge response prompted several teen fashion houses to hire her for photo shoots, including Manifesta, everMaya, Pinup Girl and Triple L Designs. Los Angeles make-up company Glossy Girl signed her up to be one of their teen faces.
Now Madeline is hitting the big time. On September 13 at the spectacular Vanderbilt Hall inside New York’s Grand Central Station, Madeline will open the fashion catwalk for sporty jeans and teen fashion house FLM Moda.
The company has partnered with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to feature models with disabilities in its shows to break stereotypes both on and off the runway under the logo Fashion Free From Confines.
The focus on Madeline in New York might be a challenge as she does have some difficulty talking in public. Madeline’s mother Rosanne says she usually speaks for her daughter, who is reluctant to talk to strangers.
But through her mother, Madeline answered some fashion-style questions from dpa’s unfashionable reporter.
“My favourite model is Tyra Banks. She believes in inclusion and has done an enormous amount for the modelling industry,” she said.
In New York Madeline wants to see the ultimate female model — the Statue of Liberty — and visit the Cake Boss Café near Times Square.
While Madeline’s beaming smile and bubbly personality is propelling her to one of the biggest fashion events in the world, Rosanne concedes it has not been an easy road to walk.
When Madeline was born, doctors said she would never grow past being an 8-year-old. Parents with children in playgrounds took their children away whenever Madeline approached them to play.
Now people are seeing the beauty in Madeline, and Madeline has developed a determination to do what she wants which is to shine as a focus for fashion’s beautiful people.
“I believe people can see love through our photos,” Madeline said. — DPA