Although the media continues to present us with the same beauty models, more and more models are moving away from conventional fashion standards.
In fact, beauty is not the exclusive prerogative of young women, thin and without disabilities, as demonstrated by some people who, by wanting to break the rules, encourage the world to broaden the concept of beauty.
Among these, Chelsea Werner stands out, and her story helps promote a healthier approach to appearance.Chelsea was born with Down syndrome: this condition causes a variable degree of learning disabilities, as well as characteristics physiognomics such as lower than average birth weight, upward slanting eyes, small mouth and weak muscle strength. This is the reason why parents
encouraged her since childhood to practice a lot of physical activity, trying different sports – a way that would lead her to become a champion.
In fact, Chelsea wins the Special Olympics National Gymnastics Championship four times, and twice – in 2012 and 2015 – also the World Downhill Championship, success which Chelsea achieves through hard work,
as her coach also pointed out, remembering that at first the girl had difficulty even walking from one end of the beam to the other. Her triumph as a gymnast shows how Chelsea was able to transform her weakness physical
in a point of strength, a true miracle fruit of his determination, his courage and his efforts; but she didn’t stop there. It was in 2016 that she was presented with a new challenge: representing a new face of fashion, with the H&M campaign about successful athletes who have overcome significant obstacles.
This is just the beginning. The same year, she will show during New York Fashion Week, then participate in Aerie’s #AerieREAL campaign, and in 2018, she will be interviewed by Teen Vogue.
She currently works with the WeSpeak agency, which offers models that do not conform to traditional beauty ideals; she was also the protagonist of the Today Show and was interviewed live with makeup artist Bobbi Brown.
It was not easy to enter the world of fashion, but thanks to her tenacity – matured as a gymnast – and the support of her parents, Chelsea succeeded, becoming a role model for all people with the same syndrome at never give up on achieving their dreams.
And Chelsea has made it her mission, as she said in an interview with A Plus: “I don’t think people with Down syndrome are represented enough (…) The more we are represented, the more people will see how how capable we are.”
Today, many fans follow Chelsea, who follow her continued progress on Facebook and Instagram.
Thanks to people like Chelsea, our society is finally opening up to diversity, which is the true hallmark of human beings and life; you just have to open your eyes and be brave, like Chelsea.