Teen with Down syndrome 'changing the face of modelling'

Madeline Stuart is "changing society's view of people with Down syndrome." Photo / Instagram

Madeline Stuart is not your average model. But the 18-year-old Brisbane woman, who has Down syndrome, has already been hired to model for two US-based fashion labels.

She is "changing the face of modelling", Damian Graybelle, co-founder of accessory brand everMaya, told Today.com.

"Madeline has external beauty - Down syndrome or not. But secondly, she captures inner beauty, which is something the everMaya brand is all about."

Graybelle says the company was inspired by Madeline's dream to become a model - and her mum's attitude in not writing it off as a teenage fantasy and encouraging her to pursue it.

That attitude has paid off, with Madeline recently hired to model for another clothing company, women's sportswear brand Manifesta.

"Through her modelling career, she has forced many to reconsider the conventional standards of beauty," the company states on its website.

On her public Facebook profile, where she has amassed almost 400,000 followers, Madeline writes that she is "changing society's view of people with Down syndrome."

EverMaya co-founder Graybelle told Today.com he hopes the company's partnership with Madeline will help show people with disabilities in a different light.

"I wish we could have done it sooner. We're a new brand, but we're here, and we're going to lead the charge. And it starts with Madeline."

- nzherald.co.nz