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Style > Beauty

Meet Katie Meade: Special Olympian, Face of a New Beauty Campaign, Professional Badass

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Jane Doe
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Lauren Rae Wetzsteon
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Minnesota chapter.

Katie Meade, 32, is breaking down barriers in the modeling industry. She’s showing everyone that having a disability doesn’t make you any less able, beautiful, or fearless. Haircare line, Beauty & Pinups, recently announced Katie as the the face of their new campaign, Fearless Hair Rescue Treatment, and we’re obsessed.

Katie is now the first model with Down syndrome to be the face of a beauty campaign, and she’s absolutely killing it. “The Beauty & Pin-Ups brand is a celebration of the empowerment of a woman and what it took to be a pin-up in 1935, and carrying that message in a modern sense, so as we were launching this product, in our mind it could have been the next traditional pin-up- but as soon as we came up with the name “Fearless” it was really easy,” Beauty and Pin-ups CEO, Kenny Kahn told to PeopleStyle. Katie was the very first person that came to their minds when they came up with the name “Fearless”, and it’s pretty clear why.

This is only Katie’s most recent accomplishment on a long list of triumphs. She’s endured two open-heart surgeries, but that hasn’t stopped her. In 1999, Katie won gold for the balance beam in the Raleigh Special Olympics. She currently works in her county’s treasury office, as an office generalist and is also an ambassador for Best Buddies International, an organization that helps people with developmental and intellectual disabilities find job opportunities and connect with friends. Best Buddies also works with Beauty & Pin-Up.

“People see me for who I am and they see me not as someone with a disability, but that I have ability,” she shares. “And I like to try new different things and I inspire women to do that. Beauty belongs to everybody,” Katie tells People. She couldn’t be more right, beauty belongs to everybody, no matter what you look like. Our society has had a certain image of what is beautiful for so long, and it has created many stereotypes surrounding people with Down syndrome. Katie challenges these stereotypes, and shows all of us that there’s so much more than “traditional” beauty. She’s not only an inspiration to women with disabilities; but to all women. Despite being absolutely stunning, her success, confidence and positive attitude is what makes her so amazing. She’s a perfect example of someone who is challenging the standards of beauty in the modeling industry. I think it’s safe to say that Katie’s going to bring in a lot of support for Beauty and Pin-ups, especially from us here at Her Campus Minnesota.

 

 

SOURCES: 

http://beautyandpinups.com/2016/02/katie-meade-is-fearless/

http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2016/04/01/meet-katie-meade-the-first-woman-with-down-syndrome-to-be-featured-as-the-face-of-a-beauty-product/

http://www.today.com/style/model-down-syndrome-lands-beauty-campaign-i-felt-so-special-t84441

http://www.glamour.com/story/this-history-making-model-is

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Jane Doe

Minnesota

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Lauren is the Her Campus Correspondent at the University of Minnesota where she is currently studying Strategic Communications with and emphasis in Public Relations. Lauren also works for a national nonprofit organization called Miss Amazing that focuses on empowering women with disabilities by hosting programs offering the opportunity to develop life long skills, build confidence, express themselves, and create meaningful relationships. In addition to her work with Her Campus and Miss Amazing, Lauren also works as the Public Relations and Branding Coordinator at Metropolitan Salons and Spas and as an assistant at a law firm in downtown Minneapolis. When she isn't busy working, Lauren enjoys reading, shopping, spending time with her family and friends, and of course watching New Girl. Lauren is an enthusiast for many things: coffee, Kate Spade, office supplies, home décor, women's empowerment, and pugs, just to name a few. Lauren's favorite quote (right now) is, "Give me some wifi, a pair of heels, some coffee and watch me make the world go round." HCXO!