How My Daughter Became Wet Seal's First Model With Down Syndrome [View all]

[rug]

Sue Brown
Today 12:50pm

When I received the prenatal diagnosis that my baby had Down syndrome, my world came to a skidding halt. My mother wisely let me cry for about 20 minutes, then asked me what had changed. I remember telling her everything had changed. Then she said the words that would set the stage for how my daughter would be raised. My mom said, “Your baby might have a disability, but she will only be disabled if you make her that way."

I tell this story to explain to strangers who ask how my daughter became an international sensation as one of Wet Seal's new models — that this was no accident. Karrie knows she can achieve her dreams, and that's exactly what she did. In fact, she teaches me that daily.

"I love my tummy," Karrie says when she looks at herself in the mirror and pats her belly. She has terrific self-esteem and feels good about her body. Many children with Down syndrome have soft muscle mass, which can lead to shopping in the plus size section, which Karrie loves to do. It was at Wet Seal where she really fell in love with clothes that made her fall even more in love with her body.

Only a few weeks ago — on August 12, I put a picture of Karrie on her first day of her junior year of high school on social media. I came home to quite a few Facebook friends who also have daughters with Down syndrome who were asking where I buy Karrie’s clothes that were well-fitting yet stylish.

http://jezebel.com/how-my-daughter-became-wet-seals-first-model-with-down-1441114081