At 22 years old, Jessica Jacinto from Venezuela has managed to model on important catwalks and pose in incredible campaigns in her country. Modeling has given her confidence and she strives every day to be selected to model.
Over the years, certain people in the modeling industry have tried to end the singular definition of beauty and are starting to open the modeling world to other kinds of beauty. Now, facing a space where diversity seeks to predominate, Jéssica Jacinto has found a place in this world.
Jessica is a 22-year-old model who was born with Down syndrome, a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Despite the physical limitations that this might entail, she determined that she wanted to be an international model.
Despite being one of the most common chromosomal conditions diagnosed in the United States, those who are “different” still face discrimination. This is something Jessica struggles with, but it doesn’t slow her down.
The journey into modeling began when Jessica was 14 years old, when she and her mother, Yanira, received an invitation to a beauty pageant for girls with Down syndrome, which they accepted just to try something new.
At the time, Yanira said her daughter was made to walk the runway and she realized that that “was her world.”
After that, Jessica decided that becoming an international model was her life dream: “For me, being a model is like studying a career that you love, that you are really passionate about,” she commented.
“And believe it or not, it takes dedication and practice to get better. The moment I’m on the catwalk, I become someone else. It’s almost as if someone else inside me suddenly comes out. I feel empowered,” she added.
And, so, she worked hard at it for 10 years with her mother, her great support who is always by her side. Yanira took it upon herself to find her job opportunities and make her social networks grow.
Thanks to that effort, Jessica is called to many castings. She has been invited by local entrepreneurs and designers to model and everyone agrees on the same thing: her charisma and strength stand out.
Despite the fact that Jessica has had many job opportunities, her mother believes that “there is still a long way to go in Venezuela in terms of inclusion”.
Some big modeling agencies and brands have dismissed the girl, saying they would call back without intending to do so. However, it hasn’t held Jessica or her mother back. Instead, this has motivated them to move forward. They believe in the dream, knowing in their hearts that someday it will be achieved.
“We are different, but not inferior,” says Jessica, who is also a verified member of the Venezuelan Red Cross.
Jessica is proud of her journey, of her parents’ effort to find a place for her and she is motivated by all the work she still has left to do because this is her passion.