Laurence Dollimore
A SPANISH Down syndrome model from Spain has made history by catwalking during New York Fashion week.
Marian Avila, 21, rocked a red dress and two others for Atlanta designer Talisha White, supported by her parents and siblings who were watching from the audience.
“I felt really happy and I really loved the runway,” explained Avila, from Alicante. “I wanted to show the world that there are no barriers.”
The designer – whose outfits focused on ‘prom, pageant and special occasions’ – found Avila on Facebook and wanted to help her make her dreams come true.
“She’s been a busy supermodel, meeting with all types of people,” White said of the attention Avila has received worldwide.
“I’m very glad for her. She’s been meeting with Vogue (magazine) and with Harper’s Bazaar.
“She’s been meeting in different showrooms, different modeling agencies.”
White added: “I wanted to show not just one type of girl is beautiful. I like to showcase all types of girls, from pageant girls to models in wheelchairs, models with Down syndrome, models who are four feet and told they can never be a model. They are my ‘it’ girl.”
Avila revealed that she ‘practices modelling everyday’ and that she also wants to be an actress.
