When I read an article about Jamie Brewer walking down the runway in New York Fashion week, I became completely ecstatic.

Jamie Brewer will be the first woman with Down Syndrome to walk down the runway for Carrie Hammer’s “Role Models Not Runway Models.”

Have we finally reached a point in awakening where we are honoring and recognizing that role models don’t have to be size double zero, legs for days, models? Runway models can be role models as well, but sometimes we get so caught up in their appearance that we miss out on the truth—their heart and soul!

Jamie is an inspiration to many young girls and women. Leading by example, she is showing young ladies everywhere that they can be anything that they set their mind to! So many young women struggle with feeling inadequate and not as important as the “pretty and popular” runway-like models, that they feel excluded and they do not pursue their dreams and goals.

Jamie is a star on American Horror Story. You have probably seen her as the very lovable Nan, a clairvoyant witch, in the third Season “Coven.” As a busy actress, Jamie still has time to be very active in the Down Syndrome Community where she has held many important roles, such as President, with the ARC (for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities) Texas Chapter. She has also been an active advocate in discussions with Senators of Texas that have abolished the use of the word “retarded” and now, because of her efforts, Texas uses the phrase “Intellectual Developmental Disability.” She also is adamant about improving the acknowledgement of the needs of people with disabilities.

Jamie is here to show that we can all achieve our dreams ,and that we all deserve to.

The out-pour of love and appreciation for Carrie including women with disabilities in her runway show is visible throughout social media—and Jamie is a perfect role model for young women everywhere!

Carrie saw that role models should take the place of runway models as a way to empower women of all shapes, sizes and walks of life. She took women who were activists, disabled, high executives, actresses—basically the most bad ass ladies around who could provide inspiration and empowerment to women all over the globe.

We have finally reached a place in society where we no longer divide individuals with disabilities as “other.” We see that we are all one and we should no longer acknowledge any division of any form or fashion. We are all here to inspire and empower.

We are all connected to one another under the beautiful scope of the Universe.

We were all born as one. We were all born with love in our hearts.

The division of ignorance is now a thing of the past as we embrace role models who are real, pure, true—an inspiration to the world.

Times they are a changing, my friends!

Author: Hannah Hilton

Editor: Emily Bartran

Photo: Wikimedia Commons