This teen is one super model.
Madeline Stuart - who has Down Syndrome and a leaky heart valve - made
her runway debut at New York Fashion Week on Sunday night with a
glittering, body-painted male model on each arm.
Not too shabby.
The 18-year-old Australian - who goes by the nickname Maddy - conquered
the catwalk at Grand Central’s Vanderbilt Hall as part of the FTL Moda
presentation of international designers.
The audience applauded as the petite redhead strut in three looks,
including a pair of sequined hot pants and a flowing watercolor halter
draped over a bandeau top, as well as a white off-the-shoulder floral
applique gown with a long, cascading train.
But the crowd roared when young Maddy did a final lap wearing a black
t-shirt emblazoned with “I Am NYFW” on the back. She then pulled her
mother Rosanne Stuart up on the runway with her, and gave her mom a hug
and kiss.
“It was fun,” Maddy told the News after the show. “I feel good!”
Her mom (and manager) was grinning from ear-to-ear, as well.
“She was great! I am so proud,” said Stuart, sitting in the front row. “She’s pretty cute, isn’t she?”
Maddy’s rise to fashion stardom began last year when she first told her
mom she wanted to model. “I don’t want to stop Maddy from doing
anything,” Stuart said.
So she took Maddy for a professional photo shoot, and those pictures
went viral online in May. The next thing she knew, Maddy was invited to
walk on one of fashion’s biggest stages.
The designer showcase of collections from six international designers
featured models with various disabilities as part of the night’s theme
of “Fashion Free from Confines.”
That included Rebekah Marine, a.k.a. the “bionic model,” who walked the
runway wearing a state-of-the-art i-limb, and wheelchair-bound Leslie
Irby.
Maddy and her mom checked in backstage at 9 a.m. for rehearsals,
interviews, hair and makeup - and an hour before showtime, Maddy was
feeling the pressure.
After cameras swarmed around the teen as she was getting her face
painted with a glittery blue eyemask, Maddy broke down in tears - and
her mother quickly swooped in and brought her to a quiet corner to
decompress.
“She’s fine. There are just too many cameras,” said Stuart. “When she
feels overwhelmed, that’s when I go into protective mum mode.”
But Maddy was raring to go by showtime, hugging the producers backstage and high-fiving the other models.
Of course, her mother sat in the front row just in case she needed to step in.
She needn’t have worried. Madeline handled her first runway show like a pro.
“She’s been so excited. She didn't sleep at all last night!” said Stuart.
Maddy should have no trouble getting her beauty sleep after putting in a
12-hour day for her runway debut just two days after a 28-hour trek
from Australia to New York.
“I just want to go to sleep,” she admitted after the show, staring shyly at the floor.
She’s earned it.
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