World Down Syndrome Day: Meet 10 Celebrities With Down Syndrome Who Fulfilled Their Dreams

During World Down Syndrome Dayplanet celebrates the great achievements and contributions that people with Down syndrome make in our lives every day.

In this way, people with this genetic disease want to show that they can break barriers and stereotypes. This is a list of some of the men and women with Down syndrome who are changing the way the world sees them.

Adamari López greets journalist Evelyn Labanda in honor of World Down Syndrome Day

Jamie Brewer

Jamie Brewer is an award-winning actress, Known for her recurring roles in series American Horror Story. Since starring in the series, Brewer has worked on various TV shows and films. In 2018, he became the first person with Down syndrome to win a Drama Desk Award. for best actress in a play. Brewer was too the first person with Down syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week 2015.

Off camera, Jamie is a self-advocate, working with the ARC to end the use of the ‘r’ word (slowdeferred) in Texas law and use “Intellectual Developmental Disability” in all official languages ​​instead.

Sofia Jirau

In February 2022, Puerto Rican Sofía Jirau became the first model with Down syndrome to sign a contract with the American retailer Victoria’s Secret. According to a press release, she, along with 17 other women, is promoting Victoria’s Secret’s Love Cloud line for all-day comfort, which the brand believes will “reinforce Victoria’s Secret’s commitment to welcoming and celebrating all women.” woman”. The announcement was covered by various media outlets in Puerto Rico and the United States, as well as magazines.

Jirau made her debut as a model at the fashion show of designer Wanda Beauchamp at the age of 16. But she officially started working as a model on March 26, 2019, on her 23rd birthday.

Pablo Pineda

Pablo Pineda is an award-winning Spanish actor Silver Shell at San Sebastian International Film Festival 2009 for his performance in the film Me too. In the film, he plays a high school student with Down syndrome, which is quite similar to his real life.

Pineda is currently working with the Adecco Foundation in Spain, making presentations at conferences about the employment plan the foundation is implementing with him. In 2011, Pablo spoke in Colombia (Bogotá, Medellín), demonstrating the social inclusion of people with disabilities. Two years later, he wrote his first book in 2013 under the title A learning challenge. He also cooperates with the Foundation ‘Lo que de verdad importa’.

Owen Groesser

Owen Groesser was a high school student when he became an overnight celebrity score a pair of three-pointers in a basketball game. Thanks to a video shot by his sister, Owen’s big night went viral on Twitter and even earned him the No. 1 spot on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 plays. His play has been immortalized as “doing Owen”. Owen is now grown up and spends most of his time with his girlfriend Allie Hayes.

Barbara Wetzel

This Mexican girl, better known as Bibi, became famous in 2016 when she became champion in gymnastics at the age of 12. In 2015, he won the World Championship in sports gymnastics in the junior category., at an International Organization of Down Syndrome Gymnasts event. It was a major achievement for the little girl, as doctors told her mother she was suffering from hypotonia, a disorder that weakens muscle tone, a common condition in children with Down syndrome.

In 2018, he achieved success again by winning first place in the ‘All Around’ where he faced competitors from 15 countries. A year later he fought for the world champion title.

Lauren Potter

Lauren is an American actress, lawyer and comedian. known for her role as Becky Jackson in the series joy from FOXwhich she did from 2009 to 2015. Potter advocates for people with disabilities through organizations including AbilityPath, Best Buddies International, the National Down Syndrome Society, the Americans with Disabilities Association and the Special Olympics.

In late 2016, it emerged that Potter’s childhood friend-turned-boyfriend, Timothy Speare, had proposed to her. Both were born with Down syndrome and their families have known each other since they were babies. However, in February 2017, it was announced that their engagement was off.

Ayelen Barreiro

Ayelén Barreiro gained fame after participating in the Marcelo de Tinelli program Dance for the Showmatch of your dreams in Argentina. After her debut in the show, the young woman wanted to read a letter in which she conveyed a very important message for society: “Yes, I have Down syndrome, but I am more than that. I have strength and I try to improve day by day. If I had remained in difficulties, I wouldn’t be here today,” he said. Dancing is certainly still the biggest motivation for Ayelén, who also shows other aspects related to this art on her social networks, such as artistic pagination.

Zack Gottsagen

This American actor made his debut with a leading role in the film Peanut Butter Falcon. In 2019, the Associated Press recognized him as a breakthrough artist, and a year later, in 2020, he became the first person with Down syndrome to perform at the Academy Awards. Together with Shia LaBeouf, he presented the Oscar for the best live-action short film at the 92nd Academy Awards.

chris burke

Actor chris burke she has appeared in many film and television roles and even has a Golden Globe nomination. He is known for his role in the television series Life goes on as Charles ‘Corky’ Thatcherwhich helped change the way people view people with disabilities.

He has worked at the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) as an office assistant for over 20 years and has been their Goodwill Ambassador since 1994. In 2014, he appeared on Where are you now? by Oprah. and shared the now famous quote: “This is not about performance difficulties. It’s all about skills. That’s the message.”. (AND)