Katie Meade
Kathryn "Katie" Meade[2] (born 18 May 1983) is an American model, widely considered to be "the first model with Down syndrome to become the face of a beauty campaign."[3][4][5][6][2][7][8]
Katie Meade | |
---|---|
Born | Des Moines, Iowa | May 18, 1983
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Model |
Modeling information | |
Height | 4 ft 10 in (147 cm)[1] |
Hair color | black |
Eye color | brown[1] |
Meade was born in Des Moines, Iowa in a family of three female children[1] to Tom and Becky Meade.[9] She experienced many health problems[10] ever since early childhood, being diagnosed with Down syndrome and having undergone two open heart surgeries.[3] Meade attended mainstream classes at Herbert Hoover High School,[7] where she reports having been bullied by other students due to her condition.[8][2][3] While in high school, she joined Best Buddies International.[7] It was while working as an ambassador for the organization that she was approached by Beauty and Pin-Ups to become the face of their 2016 "Fearless" range,[2] thus becoming the first model with Down syndrome to front a beauty campaign.
In addition to being a model, Meade has also participated in the Special Olympics, winning the gold medal for the balance beam in Raleigh at the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games.[1] Four years later, at the 2003 World Games in Dublin, she introduced U2's performance.[1] During her career, she has befriended many famous people, most notably Rob Lowe and Tom Brady.[9][4] When Meade was hit by a car in October 2016, the NFL star sent her a video message, wishing her full recovery.[7]
As of 2017, she works as Office Generalist at the Polk County Treasurer's Office.[7][11]
See also
References
- "Katie Meade is Fearless". beautyandpinups.com. February 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- Berkey, Tasina. "As A Child, They Put Gum In Her Hair. But Now, She's The Face Of A Unique Beauty Campaign". littlethings.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- Young, Sarah (12 June 2017). "Katie Meade: Meet the Model with Down's Syndrome That's Changing the Face of Beauty". Independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- Ruffo, Jillian (1 April 2016). "Meet Katie Meade, the First Woman with Down Syndrome to Be Featured as the Face of a Beauty Product". people.com. People. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- Beck, Laura (2 April 2016). "Meet the First Model With Down Syndrome to Be Featured as the Face of a Beauty Campaign". cosmopolitan.com. Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- Walano, Rose (12 April 2016). "Meet the First Model With Down Syndrome to Land a Beauty Campaign". usmagazine.com. US Magazine. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- Finney, Daniel P. (3 February 2017). "Meet the other model in Tom Brady's life: Iowa's Katie Meade". desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- "Model With Down Syndrome Challenges Beauty Stereotypes". Born Different. Season 5. Episode 6. 1 June 2017. Barcroft TV. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- Chandler, Reid (9 April 2016). "Des Moines Woman with Down Syndrome Featured as Face of Beauty Campaign". whotv.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- Mosbergen, Dominique (5 April 2016). "Special Olympian Katie Meade Becomes First Model With Down Syndrome To Land Beauty Campaign". huffingtonpost.com. Huffington Post. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- "Katie Meade On Being Fearless". beautyandpinups.com. May 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.