Delaware TikTok star's journey from Down syndrome activist to acting in new film

Andre Lamar, Delaware News Journal
Updated ·6 min read

Meeting Joe Biden or modeling for the GAP aren't anything new for a senior at Middletown High who is also a TikTok star.

But what is new for Kayla Kosmalski — who boasts 236,000 TikTok fans (@amykosmalski) — is that she's traveling with her family to Oviedo, Florida, to attend a red-carpet event at Regal Cinemas at Oviedo Mall on Thursday, March 21.

The special event is for her film debut in "I Win," an inspirational drama through Hoffy’s Heart Productions that shines a light on others like Kayla who have Down syndrome.

It's a tale of bullying and friendship, Kayla explained.

She plays the role of Juliette Tanner, a character that reminds her of a famous TV family's name. "Tanner is the last name on 'Fuller House,' " Kayla, 17, of Middletown, said. "I love 'Fuller House.'"

The teenager said she "loved" appearing in "I Win." The film was shot in Orlando, and Kayla spent four weeks on set, first arriving in June and then flying back out to film her fourth and final week in October.

Amy Kosmalski, Kayla's mom, said the goal is for the independent film to get picked up by a major streaming platform.

TikTok star and her family are in new film

Kayla Kosmalski and her mother Amy are featured in the yard of their home in Middletown, Monday, March 18, 2024. Kayla, a Middletown High senior, actress and social media influencer with Down syndrome, has over 230,000 followers on TikTok and will be starring in the indie film “I Win,” which will have a red-carpet event in Florida on March 21 in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day.

Kayla's mom, dad, grandma and her younger brother and sister — Logan, 11, and Brynnley, 7, have cameos in the film.

Rick Kosmalski, her dad, said the film experience "was really cool." But he didn't realize how long it took to shoot a movie.

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They'd spend 12- and sometimes 14-hour days filming, said Amy. But being on the movie set taught Kayla's mom how resilient her daughter was because actors always have to be on point whenever their name is called.

"You've got to be looking cute and energetic and happy or sad. You have to be 'on' for whatever moment it is that you're playing, and Kayla was in [character] the whole time," Amy explained, adding that her daughter "memorized the script." 

How viral TikTok landed teen her first movie role

TikTok star Kayla Kosmalski, 17, of Middletown, appears in a scene from the film "I Win," a drama that spreads awareness about Down syndrome.
TikTok star Kayla Kosmalski, 17, of Middletown, appears in a scene from the film "I Win," a drama that spreads awareness about Down syndrome.

Kayla said she landed a role in "I Win" after director Robin Hoffman discovered her on TikTok, which led to an audition.

All of the TikTok teen's videos are posted under her mom's account (@Amy Kosmalski.) Amy runs the account and uses it to show videos of the Middletown senior living her life, from cheerleading to modeling, and everything in between.  

A TikTok went viral last spring when Kayla celebrated World Down Syndrome Day, and that caught the director's attention. Before that video, Amy's TikTok only had about 12 followers.

When Kayla pitched the idea to her mom to upload a video of her promoting World Down Syndrome Day, Amy initially was going to post it on Instagram Reels to reach young people. But her daughter told her to use TikTok because IG is for "old people," Kayla said with a laugh. 

"My favorite part of high school is being a cheerleader. I love to be included and I love my teammates and my coaches," Kayla says in her viral TikTok, which included clips of her cheerleading.

She added, "I have three copies of the 21st chromosome. My mom always says I'm a little extra."

Mom says TikTok users bullied her daughter with Down syndrome

Kayla Kosmalski, 17, Middletown High senior, actress and social media influencer with Down syndrome, is featured outside her home in Middletown, Monday, March 18, 2024. Kosmalski has over 236,000 followers on TikTok and makes her acting debut in the indie film 'I Win,' which will have a red-carpet event in Florida on March 21 in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day.

The video blew up on TikTok with many people impressed with how well Kayla spoke. But her mom also encountered lots of people bullying her daughter.

She discovered people teasing Kayla with duet videos. A duet is when a TikTok user creates a video that appears side-by-side with a video from another creator. If someone creates a duet video that features you, you can't delete their video.

Her mom got overwhelmed by all the comments.

"It was hundreds and hundreds of 1000s of comments. I probably deleted, I would say, for four or five days straight, eight-hour days of deleting comments, before I was like, 'This is crazy,'" the TikToker's mom said.

Kayla's mom eventually deleted the video. Then she decided to reupload it. The reupped video has 12.3 million views and over 2,800 comments.

Using TikTok to help inspire others with special needs

The Kosmalski siblings, from left, Brynnley, 7, Kayla,17, and Logan, 11, sit in the living room of their home in Middletown, Monday, March 18, 2024.
The Kosmalski siblings, from left, Brynnley, 7, Kayla,17, and Logan, 11, sit in the living room of their home in Middletown, Monday, March 18, 2024.

Amy has since adjusted the TikTok account so that any fan of her daughter who wants to post a comment must receive her approval.

Rick wanted to keep the account going because he wanted to prove to bullies that kindness wins over negativity.

"Understand that everybody's going through something. That makes a big difference in other's lives. I can tell you, Kayla has had some wonderful people impact her life in that way," Kayla's dad said.

He and his wife run the nonprofit 321 Foundation, which aims to empower people with Down syndrome and other disabilities through advocacy, education and support.

Rick noticed the amount of support Kayla was getting on social media, including from parents whose children have special needs, and said he wanted to inspire those folks just as other influencers with special needs have inspired his family.

Kayla Kosmalski, 17, of Middletown, went viral on TikTok in 2023 for celebrating World Down Syndrome, which led her to getting discovered and making her acting debut in the film 'I Win,' a drama that spreads awareness about Down syndrome.
Kayla Kosmalski, 17, of Middletown, went viral on TikTok in 2023 for celebrating World Down Syndrome, which led her to getting discovered and making her acting debut in the film 'I Win,' a drama that spreads awareness about Down syndrome.

Some TikTok users have criticized Kayla's parents, claiming they're using the platform to gain fame off their daughter. Her mom said they're not looking to exploit the teen.

Rather, the idea behind her account was to "promote acceptance and inclusion of Kayla and all of her friends like her," Amy explained. Kayla will take over the TikTok account after she turns 18, she added.

What is Down syndrome?

Down syndrome (or Trisomy 21) is a condition in which a person is born with an extra chromosome. Down syndrome typically causes varying degrees of intellectual and physical disabilities, per worlddownsyndromeday.org.

What is World Down Syndrome Day?

World Down Syndrome Day is a global awareness day on March 21 that's been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The date 3/21 is important because it was selected to represent trisomy of the 21st chromosome that causes Down syndrome, per worlddownsyndromeday.org.

TikTok star with Down syndrome gets college offers

Kayla Kosmalski, 17, a Middletown High senior, is all smiles outside of her home on March 18, 2024. Despite having Down syndrome, she's been accepted into multiple four-year colleges.
Kayla Kosmalski, 17, a Middletown High senior, is all smiles outside of her home on March 18, 2024. Despite having Down syndrome, she's been accepted into multiple four-year colleges.

Not letting Down syndrome hold her back, Kayla has been accepted into multiple four-year colleges.

She's posted videos on TikTok that include her being accepted into Immaculata University in Pennsylvania and Washington College in Maryland.  In the Immaculata video, Kayla shows she was awarded two scholarships for $14,000.

Kayla's mom said her daughter is seeking a traditional four-year degree.

The Middletown High senior said she wants to study communications or acting/theater.

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Regardless of which major she chooses, Kayla is excited and said she looks forward to higher education.

But before then, she's going to bask in the glory of her red-carpet event for "I Win" with her family.

If anyone recognizes the TikTok sensation in public, the teen said she has a cute tip for how people can break the ice with her.

"Say, 'Hi, Kayla Kosmalski. You're TikTok famous and let's take a selfie,'” Kayla explained.

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters. 

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware TikTok star celebrates World Down Syndrome Day with new film