Model Madeline Stuart, who has Down syndrome, will walk at New York Fashion Week ASPIRING Brisbane model Madeline Stuart is en route to live her dream � on the New York catwalk for one of fashions biggest events. The 18-year-old is on her way to model in a show for at New York Fashion Week on Sunday but the big break is a bigger deal for her than the models strutting beside her. Madeline has Down syndrome and is hoping through modelling to change in how people view beauty and people with disabilities. "Here I come New York. So excited," the 18-year-old posted on her Facebook account on Thursday afternoon. partnering with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to help models with disabilities. Rebekah Marine, a 28-year-old American with a bionic arm, is also taking part. "Beautiful Madeline will brighten up the runway," announced on Facebook in August. Madeline has inspired thousands through her social media posts, generating more than 466,000 likes on her Facebook page and messages of support from as far as Canada and the Netherlands. Mother Roseanne Stuart says Madeline always loved the spotlight and after attending a fashion parade last year, decided she wanted to model. After struggling with her weight most of her life, she went on a healthy eating kick and lost almost 20kg. Mrs Stuart then created her Facebook page in a bid to help her daughter chase her dreams. "Within a week her photos were viral. So many people said she was an inspiration. She gave people hope that their children living with Down syndrome would achieve anything they set their mind to," she said on a post this week on Madelines website. Since then, Madeline has walked the New York catwalk for auto immune awareness, become the face of cosmetic company Glossigirl and has even had a bag named after her. "She is now known as the first professional adult model with Down syndrome in the world and is actually supporting herself doing it". It was a contrast to what people thought she could do. "Her doctors told me she would never achieve anything," Mrs Stuart said earlier this year.
