If you've never heard of Ellie Goldstein, then I have great news: You're about to learn about one of fashion's rising stars.
Hailing from the U.K., Ellie is an 18-year old model with Down syndrome, and she's part of a new wave of models bringing representation to the fashion and beauty community.
At 18, Ellie is one of the youngest and most successful models at Zebedee Management, a talent agency dedicated to bringing inclusivity and diversity to the media industry.
She was scouted by Gucci Beauty and Vogue Italia in June, which we covered here.
To date, Ellie is Gucci's most-liked image on Instagram. Her fresh-faced look quickly made her famous in the beauty and fashion worlds.
"When I saw [my picture] on Gucci Beauty’s Instagram, I thought, Wow! Who is this? Is this me, or what?!" She told Allure. "My friends and family saw it. It felt very special to me."
She landed features with Elle UK, Glamour, and Vogue, sending her star on a serious rise.
From campaigns to articles, Ellie was everywhere. So, what was next?
For winter 2020, Allure launched their "Beauty of Accessibility" series, featuring models that showcase inclusivity and represent those with disabilities.
Ellie landed the cover of the campaign and sat down with Allure over Zoom to chat about her career so far.
"She brings up everybody's energy levels to a different kind of place," Zoe Proctor, co-founder of Zebedee, told Allure of Ellie. "It's just absolutely breathtaking and really quite moving to watch her in front of the camera."
Her mother heard about a casting agency geared toward people with disabilities.
Founded by Proctor, a theater teacher for young adults with disabilities, and her sister-in-law, Laura Johnson, Zebedee was the perfect fit for Ellie.
Once a place that was exclusively for thin, white bodies, fashion is slowly but surely expanding to represent far more people.
"Ten years from now, I want to be all over the world," she said, citing that she wanted to work with major luxury brands.
Queen, you can do whatever you set your mind to!
