Madeline Stuart: Living My Dream

Madeline Stuart at her home in Mt Crosby, Brisbane. Photo: WHO

Less than two weeks before she becomes the first professional model with Down syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week, Brisbane teen Madeline Stuart is showing no signs of nerves.

“She’s not worried about crowds,” her mother Rosanne, 44, tells WHO. “She’s danced in the opening ceremony at the Asia Pacific Games—and the Special Olympics World Games. I can’t put it into words how amazing Madeline is. She’s always had this light and I’ve always wanted people to see that light.”

A dream that will come true on Sept. 13 when Madeline models high-end label FTL Moda at NYFW. The label, which has teamed up with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to feature models with disabilities, is worn by Madeline’s favourite singer, Lady Gaga.

“It’s lovely but it’s never been about the modelling,” says Rosanne, a building surveyor who runs her own business. “What’s important is getting the word out there about inclusion and discrimination. It’s about being able to show the world to stop judging someone because they’re a little bit different.”

Stuart walks the runway at New York's Auto Immune Metro Style Fashion Show in August. Photo: Supplied

For Madeline, it’s a matter of simply living her dream. After seeing a fashion show at the Royal Queensland Show in August last year, Madeline, who has limited language ability, set her mind on modelling. Single mum Rosanne organised a photo shoot for her daughter and posted the results on a public Facebook page.

Within two months, Madeline was a viral internet star, which led to jobs for American brands EverMaya (it has named a handbag after her), Pinup Girl and Manifesta. Her Facebook page has 459,000 fans (and climbing) and she has 74,000 followers on Instagram.

Madeline with her mother Rosanne at their home in Mt Crosby, Brisbane. Photo: WHO

“Every day with Madeline here is a blessing,” says Rosanne. “I’ve always wanted people to see her through my eyes—now the world is seeing her and that is the most amazing thing to me.”

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