Katie Meade is breaking huge barriers for models with Down syndrome

Just last September, we watched Madeline Stuart slay as the first model with Down syndrome to walk the catwalk at New York Fashion Week. Stuart rocked the runway, and the moment was a major step forward for diversity in the modeling world. Good news…it looks like Madeline is opening doors and creating opportunities for other women who want to follow in her fashionable footsteps! Beauty & Pinups, a fab new haircare brand, just announced that 32-year-old Katie Meade will be the face of their newest campaign. Like Madeline, Katie has Down syndrome. She’s also CRUSHING the modeling game…

As the ambassador for Beauty & Pinup’s Fearless Hair Rescue Treatment, Katie is the first model with Down syndrome to be featured as the face of a beauty campaign. We’ve got two things to say about that: 1. WTG Katie! *all the clapping hands emojis* 2. It’s about time!

Beauty & Pinup’s CEO, Kenny Kahn, met Katie through Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization with the mission to create employment and leadership opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. When the company needed a new spokesmodel, Kahn immediately thought of Katie. Why? Because she so perfectly captures the essence of the brand’s philosophy. Kahn told People, “The Beauty & Pin-Ups brand is a celebration of the empowerment of a woman and what it took to be a pin-up in 1935, and carrying that message in a modern sense. So as we were launching this product, in our mind it could have been the next traditional pin-up — but as soon as we came up with the name ‘Fearless’ it was really easy, we were like, ‘Well Katie’s fearless.'”

In addition to modeling, Katie works as a global ambassador for Best Buddies and as an Office Generalist in her county’s treasury office. She’s also a former Special Olympian. As far as being the new face of Fearless, she says, “I’m really excited to be on the packaging of the new treatment. I love all the products — I’ve tried Fearless and I love it because it makes my hair soft.”

We love how this amazing woman is breaking boundaries and challenging conventional beauty standards. We also love what she has to say about being an inspiration: “People see me for who I am and they see me not as someone with a disability, but that I have ability. And I like to try new different things and I inspire women to do that. Beauty belongs to everybody.”

Did you hear that? Beauty belongs to everybody. ALL OF THE YES.

Mega congrats to Katie. You’ve given us a serious case of heart eyes. Go, girl.

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