This Model With Down Syndrome Just Made History

Katie Meade is the first woman with Down syndrome to be the face of a beauty product.
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Haircare line Beauty & Pin-Ups just made history with its latest campaign. The brand has named 32-year-old model Katie Meade as the representative of its new Fearless Hair Rescue Treatment, which, according to PeopleStyle, makes her the first woman with Down syndrome to be the face of a beauty product. The Fearless ads are as much about body positivity and inclusion as they are about repairing damage to hair, making Beauty & Pin-Ups' new campaign an all-around win.

"When we hear the word fearless, we think of Katie Meade," Beauty & Pin-Ups said in a press release. The model has survived two open heart surgeries, competed in the Special Olympics, and worked as a spokeswoman for Best Buddies International—an organization creating opportunities for people with disabilities. A portion of all Beauty & Pin-Ups sales goes to the nonprofit. "That’s Katie—for this pint-sized, turbo-charged spitfire, the letters N and O together don’t exist in her vocabulary," Beauty & Pin-ups said in a statement. "She doesn’t let the D word stop her, either. That word: 'Disability.'"

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs when someone has a full or partial additional copy of chromosome 21. This extra genetic material changes the course of the individual’s development, potentially resulting in physical manifestations like low muscle tone, small stature, and an upward slant to the eyes. An estimated 400,000 Americans have Down syndrome, and about 6,000 babies are born with the condition each year. Down syndrome affects each individual who has is differently, and it’s important to remember that every person who has Down syndrome has a unique experience with the condition.

The Fearless campaign's message is one of inclusion: "Beauty belongs to everyone. Every single one of us." This is something many companies have come to embrace in 2016 so far. A video put out by CoorDown and Saatchi & Saatchi last month tackled the preconceived notions facing people who live with Down syndrome, and many other campaigns have tackled similar issues regarding body image and representation.

"I love being a part of the Beauty & Pin-ups family," Meade told PeopleStyle. "People see me for who I am, and they see me not as someone with a disability, but that I have ability."

Learn more about the campaign on Beauty & Pin-Ups' website.

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Photo Credit: Instagram / @beautyandpinups