How an Australian model with Down’s syndrome is shifting the fashion spotlight
- 22-year-old Madeline Stuart has already walked more than 100 high-fashion catwalks for designers including Colleen Morris, Nonie and Zula Designs
- She hopes to shatter the stereotype that models have to be leggy, willowy and disability-free
Madeline Stuart exudes confidence when she struts down the catwalk, pausing at the perfect moment to slide her hand on her hip, look to the audience and pivot smoothly in high heels. It’s a move familiar to anyone who has seen a fashion show, but with Stuart, a professional model at age 22, there is one notable difference: she has Down’s syndrome.
The Australian native is hoping to shatter stereotypes that models have to be one size fits all – leggy, willowy and disability-free.
Although Stuart functions at the level of a seven-year-old, according to her mother and manager, Rosanne Stuart, she is thoughtful and focused when asked about making a difference on the runway.
“I’m happy to change the way society looks at people with disabilities,” the model says. “I want the world to be more accepting. That is my dream.”
Now in demand at fashion events worldwide, including New York Fashion Week, which happened this week, the strawberry blonde from Brisbane has made an impact in her four years on the catwalk. That’s according to Sara Ziff, founder of the Model Alliance, a New-York-based policy and advocacy organisation for workers in the fashion industry.