By Nadia Ahmad |Staff Writer|
Jamie Brewer made history as the first actress with Down syndrome to walk down the runway in New York Fashion Week on Feb. 12.
Many know Brewer for her various roles on the acclaimed T.V. series “American Horror Story.”
“I’ve actually always admired Jamie Brewer,” said student Hannah Weaver. “I’ve always thought she was an especially amazing actress, given her disability. Now, I admire her even more. She really rocked it. She is a real role model.”
I, too, admire Brewer after seeing her strut down the runway.
She brought so much energy that night, and made it look fun, not serious.
She kept pointing to the audience for applause and kept a huge, eccentric smile on her face.
She looked absolutely beautiful that night.
Brewer was featured walking for designer Carrie Hammer’s show entitled “Role Models Not Runway Models”.
She walked in a dress that Hammer actually called “The Jamie.”
“What I love about Jamie is that having Down syndrome is so not a large part of her identity. She is first a famous actress, a talented writer, beautiful woman and [Intellectual an Developmental Disabilities] activist,” the designer told The Huffington Post in an e-mail.Brewer has an impressive history. She attended The Groundings Theatre and School before her debut on the television series “American Horror Story.”
The Groundlings is a small, but well-known comedy and acting school, responsible for the careers of many famous actors and comedians such as Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Kristen Wiig, and more.
In my opinion, Brewer walking the runway is the best thing to happen in the history of the New York Fashion Week.
She has helped break the norm, introduce something new, and prove that nothing can hold you back from achieving your dreams.
“It’s amazing that the fashion industry are including individuals with disabilities,” Brewer told Entertainment Weekly.
Not only is she serving as a role model to young women, teaching them to forget about their insecurities, but also showing people that she is no different from others.
Our society can stop looking down on those who are different from us.
Like Hammer said, Down syndrome is not a large part of Brewer’s identity, so we need to stop identifying people by their disorders.
Student Victoria Sanchez said, “I feel like people tend to avoid those with genetic disorders, maybe because they’re afraid of being unable to carry a conversation, or I don’t know, but they really are just like the rest of us.”
Brewer has without a doubt, made history with her presence in this year’s New York Fashion Week, and I am excited to see how her influence changes the fashion industry.
Leave a Reply