Nope it’s not Cara Delevingne nor is it Kendall Jenner or Gigi Hadid. The new face of New York Fashion Week is set to be Madeline Stuart, an 18-year-old model with Down’s Syndrome. Madeline Stuart’s exciting new project will see her become the second Down’s Syndrome model to grace one of the world’s most prestigious catwalks this September. The first was American Horror Story actress Jamie Brewer, who walked the runway back in February.
Madeline will model during New York Fashion Week for FTL Moda, which famously used disabled models and amputees for its autumn/winter 2015 show earlier this year.
The brand shared the exciting news on Facebook, stating: “It is with the utmost joy and pride that we announce Madeline Stuart’s participation in #FTLModa #NYFW #SS2016 presentation. Beautiful Madeline will brighten up the runway at the #VanderbiltHall on September 13th 2015. Stay tuned and RSVP!”
Madeline’s modelling shots get great praise on social media
That’s not bad going for someone who only really joined the competitive industry earlier this year after her mother, Rosanna, launched an online campiagn to get her daughter a contract.
In a matter of weeks the Australian beauty (she’s from Brisbane) amassed a huge social media following (she has over 60,000 on Instagram and over 430,000 on Facebook) and signed two modelling deals – as the face of American fitness-wear brand Manifesta and lifestyle label everMaya.
Madeline’s mum said in an interview with Cosmopolitan: “She wanted this and she worked hard for it. I’ve done everything I can on the business end to get her to this stage. Now it’s just her working her charm.”
“When we were asked to do New York Fashion Week, I wasn’t surprised at all,” she added. “I don’t think anything really surprises me anymore. She’s been asked to do a lot of stuff and I was hoping to she’d get asked to do NYFW but I assumed it would happen. I hope that doesn’t sound too pretentious.”
We can’t wait to see Madeline Stuart as the new face of New York Fashion Week. Congratulations!
