Down Syndrome Girl Defies Stereotype

A smile can go a long, long way “” and for 23-month-old Connie-Rode Seabourne her cheeky grin has landed her not one but two modelling contracts. And it’s obvious to see why!

The little girl from the UK with Down Syndrome has defied the stereotype (and some critics) to show off her adorable smile as a toddler model.

Her mother, Julie, had been thinking about entering her in a modelling competition after friends continuously commented on her daughter’s beautiful smile, but after after speaking with agencies about her Down syndrome diagnosis, it seemed no one was interested in even meeting her.

Alas, after sending a photo of Connie to the modelling agency, the adorable two-year-old is now well on the way to becoming an international hit “” with a smile that will melt your heart!

“When I spoke to the agencies about her Down’s syndrome diagnosis, no one even batted an eyelid,” Julie told Dailymail. “She absolutely loved it. She follows direction very well and she has so much fun in front of the cameras.”

Connie was born two months premature and wasn’t diagnosed with Down syndrome until she was two weeks old.

“I was assessed as being at higher risk of having a baby with Down Syndrome when I was pregnant and could have had the diagnostic test to find out but I didn’t want it because it just wasn’t an issue,” Julie says.

“We have friends whose children have been diagnosed with Down syndrome and have had nothing but positive experiences of children with the diagnosis. It’s just another little baby who needs to be loved.”

Julie said after sending the photo of her daughter to the modelling agency, she received a phone call straight away.

“We got a response back straight away to say they were definitely interested,” she says.

“She’s had so many photographs of her taken by me that she’s just used to it.

“She’s already been given two contracts.”

Although clearly in awe of the camera, Julie knows her daughter has limits and has vowed to only continue the modelling contract as long as her daughter is happy.

“As soon as it gets too much for her or she doesn’t like it, we’ll stop. The first sign that she’s not enjoying it, we’ll stop,” she says.

Images by Ross Parry.