BY: KHADIJA KHAN
Meet Jamie Brewer. She’s known for her compelling acting roles on American Horror Story. Brewer also has Down syndrome. Recently, Brewer strut her stuff down the catwalk during New York Fashion Week.
Not only did she don an original Carrie Hammer design, but Brewer was also the first model with Down syndrome to walk the ramp. Ever. As part of designer Carrie Hammer’s initiative to raise awareness about inspiring women, Brewer was chosen to showcase Hammer’s work in the “Role Models Not Runway Models” show.
After first showing her designs last year, Hammer decided she wanted to represent the women who actually bought and wore her designs. Though Hammer’s vision didn’t start out like this, she was struck with a rather simple idea: Rather than models, she wanted to represent the women who own multi-billion dollar companies, CEOs of global non-profits—women who are doing amazing things and defying all boundaries are the ones who she wanted to model her designs.
Hammer spoke to Today.com and explained her decision. “Jamie is an activist for intellectual disabilities, she is a writer and artist and an amazing actress.”
According to Hammer, Brewer’s dress was all black—to portray the obscure and frightening narrative of American Horror Story. “Jamie has a beautiful body with a teeny waist and curves, so we went with an A-line,” she told Today.com.
Although she’s receiving quite a lot of attention from this, Brewer remains humble and says, “It’s a true inspiration being a role model for any young women to [encourage them] in being who they are and showing who they are.”
The show took place at a digital arts and event venue in New York City called the Lightbox.
If this means that the elite world of the fashion industry can finally accept a diversity of appearance—we’re all on board.
Sources: protothema.gr, mirror.co.uk, ktuu.com
