tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post6506468747529606760..comments2024-03-28T21:36:55.157-04:00Comments on Love That Max : A baby with Down syndrome is a swimsuit model: Yes, it's a Big DealEllen Seidmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01433429847255621203noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-46028405501099578822016-11-04T14:36:36.834-04:002016-11-04T14:36:36.834-04:00I think she is adorable. Being that i have a child...I think she is adorable. Being that i have a child with down syndrome, I have to say they are just beautiful and amazing inside and out.Chiquita Wrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-12259001289341357892012-07-26T20:37:40.415-04:002012-07-26T20:37:40.415-04:00I think she's adorable. An adorable baby girl....I think she's adorable. An adorable baby girl. DS or no DS. I mean to the un initiated- she could be a child of mixed race.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-29891611181216098252012-07-26T15:55:22.133-04:002012-07-26T15:55:22.133-04:00I just don't buy into the whole "what if&...I just don't buy into the whole "what if" and "exploited" bullsh..t. That's a cute kid, and who knows what her future will hold? The money she makes can go to a college fund or a nest egg for her future. DS kids are as individual as CP kids or any other kids. The only mistake would be to assume that they all fit into a pre-determined box where their possibilities are limited.Felicianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-80143734472447836802012-07-26T14:24:55.801-04:002012-07-26T14:24:55.801-04:00OMG! Isn't she beautiful!!! I knit as a hobby...OMG! Isn't she beautiful!!! I knit as a hobby for my sanity. I especially like to knit children's clothes. One day I was looking at one of my pattern books and realized one of the baby girl models had double hearing aids. They didn't make a big deal of it, but they also didn't try to hide. it.I love, love, love it. I don't think Valentina is being as exploited as those poor children in Toddlers & Tierras. That is the ultimate in child exploitation. Children with Down's Syndrome are such commedians and hams and I bet she loved every minute of the attention. She looks so happy in the pictures. (Can't say the same about the little girls in T & T.) I can't wait to share this story with all my friends. I love, love, love it!!!<br /><br />Adoptive Mother of a 53 year old woman with Down's SyndromeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-44414255509099871012012-07-26T08:41:08.735-04:002012-07-26T08:41:08.735-04:00I agree Valentina is cute as a button (English exp...I agree Valentina is cute as a button (English expression no idea why we say this) and diversity in advertising is essential. As her parents have decided to have her be a child model, I think their motivation is the most important to understand. The fine line between promotion/advocacy and exploitation is being navigated by both sides, the advertisers and the parents, especially with the child being so young and therefore being unable to express their own desires. All of us parents of special needs children have to be careful in this area. To use a young baby just to make a point express your beliefs or support a political stance is clear exploitation. Even when it is well intended.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-3368096415637147932012-07-26T07:41:39.970-04:002012-07-26T07:41:39.970-04:00Completely agree with you. Its a positive thing h...Completely agree with you. Its a positive thing having more people with disabilities 'out there' and visible. When this sort of thing stops becoming talked about as news we'll know that inclusion is really happening and working! <br /><br />Valentina is adorable :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05944727610565448829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-54267460357287728102012-07-25T19:39:37.225-04:002012-07-25T19:39:37.225-04:00My friend with Down syndrome dances and sings. She...My friend with Down syndrome dances and sings. She also likes ice cream and working hard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-5017797466935109662012-07-25T11:53:41.548-04:002012-07-25T11:53:41.548-04:00What a cutie! I just wish that this would be the n...What a cutie! I just wish that this would be the norm and it would not make the news.Kathrynnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-30714553755266357352012-07-25T11:39:12.011-04:002012-07-25T11:39:12.011-04:00In the mid-to-late '90s, my sister did quite a...In the mid-to-late '90s, my sister did quite a bit of print and runway modeling through Beautiful Kids Inc., an agency that worked specifically with special-needs and disabled child models. This agency closed its doors when its founder and sole employee retired a few years ago. Does anyone know of anything comparable that exists today?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-83069850733717195542012-07-25T11:29:43.919-04:002012-07-25T11:29:43.919-04:00So great! Target also featured a girl with Lofstra...So great! Target also featured a girl with Lofstrand crutches in their circular about a year ago. It wasn't the point of the ad, but definitely struck a chord with me as a mother to a son w. CP.EstherNYCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-16246780216247608392012-07-25T11:11:11.768-04:002012-07-25T11:11:11.768-04:00Ohh, she's cute. I agree that it's a good ...Ohh, she's cute. I agree that it's a good thing. I would like to see more ads that had children with more visually obvious disabilities though.Wandering Hearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15611498546168017553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-15246906662405295082012-07-25T11:08:35.678-04:002012-07-25T11:08:35.678-04:00I'm the mother of a gorgeous 7 month old son w...I'm the mother of a gorgeous 7 month old son with DS. I can tell you that myself and other Aussie mums in our T21 Australia group with babies and children with DS are always excited to see children with DS and other dissablities included in everyday things. Thanks for sharing. xxMumto2boyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06152543247474857330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-73841385478282338302012-07-25T11:04:36.437-04:002012-07-25T11:04:36.437-04:00I have to say I had a hard time reading this becau...I have to say I had a hard time reading this because I kept scrolling to see more photos of Valentina. My, she is delicious. I think the company made a great choice, regardless of the DS.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-88805924237892509312012-07-25T10:37:27.999-04:002012-07-25T10:37:27.999-04:00You nailed it, Ellen prime...this is a good thing,...You nailed it, Ellen prime...this is a good thing, really, and sometimes we just need to take it as such and stop overanalyzing.Ellen Gersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14310849756933880976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-44008425801542679002012-07-25T10:33:11.046-04:002012-07-25T10:33:11.046-04:00"Once Valentina is no longer sufficiently cut..."Once Valentina is no longer sufficiently cute, she'll be out of work." Yes. JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CHILD MODEL. OH THE HUMANITY. <br /><br />The point of advertising is to sell things. Valentina is really, really cute, and those who hire her think her cuteness will sell things. Is there calculation that she's also a kid with DS? Sure. There is calculation in every decision about advertising. More kids of color are used in ads now (and not just in the back row) than in years past, too -- that's also a calculated act. Does that mean we shouldn't applaud it?marjoriehttp://www.marjorieingall.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-45429181573838902582012-07-25T10:15:49.797-04:002012-07-25T10:15:49.797-04:00People might want to check out the campaign on fac...People might want to check out the campaign on facebook "Changing the Face of Beauty" https://www.facebook.com/pages/Changing-the-Face-of-Beauty/231397186976945Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01847998347085162875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-77642333331574467392012-07-25T10:15:35.117-04:002012-07-25T10:15:35.117-04:00Well said!
I was in the Toronto airport last week...Well said!<br /><br />I was in the Toronto airport last week and there was a huge billboard with children representing every culture and I couldn't understand why they hadn't included a child with disability. There are so MANY opportunities where our kids could be included.BLOOM - Parenting Kids With Disabilitieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06901482901008135659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-15611368617499858022012-07-25T09:37:17.257-04:002012-07-25T09:37:17.257-04:00She's totally adorable, but it's true that...She's totally adorable, but it's true that once she's no longer sufficiently cute, she'll be out of work. That's the life of a model! She'll just have to deal with it and find some other line of work! It's tough being beautiful! :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-20746351177602084752012-07-25T08:23:40.647-04:002012-07-25T08:23:40.647-04:00This makes me so excited! I have been raising mone...This makes me so excited! I have been raising money for our local Down Syndrome walk in honor of a friend's baby girl. Persons with DS are beautiful and talented and I'm thrilled so see them integrated into print ads. Your "reality checks" were spot-on and refreshing. I shared this post on FB. Thanks, Ellen!jenny from mommin' it uphttp://momminitup.comnoreply@blogger.com