Meet Ghaliyah “Gigi” Cunningham, a beautiful 19-year old teen who’s making major waves in the modelling industry.
As a person living with down syndrome, Gigi says she’s faced plenty of bullying and name calling throughout her life.
But despite the negativity, Gigi is not letting anyone stand in the way of her and her dreams.
From a young age she had a passion for taking pictures and decided to redefine so called “beauty-standards.”
Now the pretty teen has been become a prominent model, getting booked for multiple high profile fashions shoots.
Not bad for a girl who doctors thought would never walk.
“Gigi has Down syndrome, but I don’t want that to define her or hold her back,” Erica Butler, Gigi’s mother told News Gazette.
“I was told she’d never do this or never do that because of her disability.”
“She’s been bullied for being different. Now she’s showing the world that she is beautiful and she can do anything anyone else can do.”
Gigi added in a separate interview with The Mighty: “When people read my story I want them to know that I can do anything, [and] with social media the world will see my true potential and beauty.”
“I want the world to really change how they perceive people with disabilities and continue to embrace their beauty.”
“People with Down’s syndrome are beautiful, smart, creative, loving, confident, and it should be displayed.”
“I love that I can inspire others to make a change and love the skin they are in.”
“No matter what we are beautiful, confident and can do anything that we set our minds to.”
We for one support Gigi all the way!
Christine loves all things cinema, and she's been that way ever since she was a little girl. In fact, she is so passionate about cinema that she decided to pursue cinematography as a full-time career, and is now pursuing film studies at the New York Film School. Originally from Florida, she is still exploring the new city, people, places, and the culture, loves the new weather, going ice skating during winters, and spending time with her fellow classmates and friends from college.