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Representation Spotlight: Pioneers In Entertainment With Down Syndrome

Representation Spotlight: Pioneers In Entertainment With Down Syndrome
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Zack Gottsagen

Expanding Down Syndrome representation in Hollywood is so important and these following trailblazers have made their mark on the industry in their own ways.

Down Syndrome Day was just over the past weekend and we are honored to highlight some of the biggest pioneers of the Down Syndrome community who have made a name for themselves in the industry.


Zack Gottsagen

Zack Gottsagen made history as the first Oscars presenter with Down Syndrome back in 2020. Gottsagen presented alongside his The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) co-star Shia LaBeouf.

Gottsagen is also known for his role as James in At Last (2020) which scored him the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Indie Short Fest.

Madeline Stuart

Madeline Stuart is the first professional supermodel with Down Syndrome. The Australian model has been represented by FTL MODA for a few years, walking at New York Fashion Week and being ranked number one for diversity in the fashion industry by Forbes in 2017.

Stuart has also curated her own fashion line, 21 Reasons Why, debuted during NYFW.

Pablo PinedaYo, también

Pablo Pineda stars as Daniel in Yo, también (2009), a university graduate who falls in love on his first day at work with Laura (Lola Dueñas). Following his character's footsteps, Pineda became the first European with down syndrome to get a teaching degree.

Pineda is also featured in numerous television documentaries, such as Trabajo temporal (2016-) and hosts Donde comen dos (2019-).

Jamie Brewer

Jamie Brewer is widely known as Adelaide Langdon of American Horror Story (2011-). With her massive platform, the actress has made waves in history being the first model with Down Syndrome to walk at New York Fashion Week in 2015. Brewer has also advocates against the usage of the r word in Texas, encouraging legislation to officially refer to Down Syndrome as an "Intellectual Development Disability."

Brewer has received the Best Actor Award at the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge for her role in Whitney's Wedding (2017) as well as the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Female Actress in a Play for Amy and the Orphans.

Cole Sibus

Cole Sibus starred alongside How I Met Your Mother's (2005-2014) Cobie Smulders and New Girl's (2011-2018) Jake Johnson in the ABC series Stumptown (2019-2020) as Ansel Parios. Sibus has also starred in Spare Room (2018) as Arrow and is featured in documentaries such as In.clu.sion (2020) and Meet the Biz (2020).

The Cast of 'Born This Way'

Born This Way (2015-2019) followed the real lives of young adults with Down Syndrome. Stars John Tucker and Rachel Osterbach became the first people with Down Syndrome to present at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. The series won back to back Creative Arts Emmy Awards for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program in 2016 and 2017.

For more information on Down Syndrome and ways to help the community, please visit: https://www.ndss.org/syndrome-awareness-month-means/

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Makayla Leilua