Madeline Stuart wanted to become a model. She was 17 when she expressed that desire, in 2014; she then began a routine to improve her fitness and health, and gradually lost 40 pounds, about 18 kilos.
In the spring of 2015, her mother, Rosanne, posted photos from a professional photo shoot on Facebook. According to The Washington Post, they received more than 7 million views and helped open doors for her in the fashion industry.
The sequence matters: Madeline wanted to be a model before starting that routine. The young Australian woman with Down syndrome made her debut at New York Fashion Week and, by February 2019, had already walked in more than 100 shows.
What began as a wellness goal led her to an international career.