You don’t just get there: on the runway of London Fashion Week. The clothing fair with more than 250 designers annually attracts a global audience of the most influential people from the fashion world. If, as a model, you can wear the designs of renowned clothing designers, you will do well.
And Beth Matthews from the British city of Swansea realizes that. She told the British broadcaster BBC that she was ‘very excited’ to be walking on one of the most famous catwalks in the world.
On Friday the time had come, on behalf of the fashion brand Goose Island (see video below) she was given two different outfits.
It doesn’t happen often that a model with Down syndrome models at such a big show. But Beth and her mother Fiona don’t want people to think it is ‘special’. “Her life is no different to most people’s and she tries to get that message across,” Fiona told British journalists.
‘Awh’ from public
But even though Beth works just as hard as other models and gets paid the same, according to her mother, she still often hears ‘awhs’ from the audience on the catwalk.
And no, Fiona and Beth do not believe that they can simply change that – and therefore the view of others on people with Down syndrome. But they hope that changing the world by a few centimeters should be possible.
Fiona: “The medical professionals at birth were very negative about what kind of life we were going to have. I think it’s really important that they stop giving that message. Everyone has the same rights to live the best life. No one does it deserve more or does it deserve less.”
To emphasize that message, Beth tries to inspire people with her modeling work. And that works out well, because she has had a contract with Zebedee since last year. This is a modeling agency that wants to be inclusive and thus also represents people with disabilities.
‘Goosebumps’
She had already completed a few photo shoots, but the runway can now also be crossed off her wish list. Beth’s mother can’t help but be proud, she says. “When I see how she makes people believe that their children can do anything, it gives me goosebumps.”
2023-09-17 12:24:55
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