The fashion industry is infamous for shutting people out - but one young girl is blowing expectations out of the water and taking the catwalk by storm.
Georgia Traebert, a 14-year-old model with Down's Syndrome, is signed to five agencies and boasts 50k followers on Instagram.
Hailing from Brazil, the teen has modelled for big brands in her home country and has even acted in TV adverts.
Georgia was diagnosed with Down's Syndrome soon after her birth, as well as a heart defect, two things that were a shock for her parents.
Her mother Rubia said:
"During my pregnancy with Georgia, all my pre-natal exams were showing up ok, and we didn't have a clue she would be a child with Down's syndrome. Naturally, at first it was a shock for us, but since the very first moment she was born she was received with a lot of love.
"Of course, the news took us by surprise. I confess that at the time I was filled with a mixture of sadness and insecurity. On the first day, she was diagnosed with heart disease and underwent heart surgery when she was five-months-old – the procedure was a success, and she is completely cured."
The young girl had always struggled to fit in among her peers and was even refused entry to some schools.
Her father Herman, who quit his career to support her said.
"Georgia had to change schools a lot, I think that was the most difficult part of our life. When she was little we changed country, where we had to adapt to other customs and other languages. She's always been very lonely because the girls her age have always been more advanced in their studies and maturity, so they don’t have much patience with her. It was the hardest time."
In June 2016, Rubia posted a photo of Georgia on social media in order to boost her confidence. The picture unexpectedly received 1,000 likes and was the beginning of something much bigger. Soon, the teen's online profile grew, and she went on to star in TV adverts, sing onstage and be signed to five modeling agencies.
Rubia said:
"It all started as a joke; I posted a picture of her on Facebook and it was a hit straight away. The idea was to see how much it can inspire other DS [Down's Syndrome] children. Today she is listed in five modelling agencies but what really worked was Instagram and Facebook. That's where she became known worldwide. Now jobs have started to appear; she has just made a commercial for a famous brand here in Brazil and also modelled for one of the biggest jewellery designers in Brazil."
Although Georgia is sometimes subject to trolling online, her mother insists that she is now more confident than ever and that her talent will see her through.
“The hardest part was when I read some people post comments that she is only successful because of her blonde hair and blue eyes - Georgia is a very kind child and very talented, otherwise she would not have come so far. Today, as she stands out in the media, she is now surrounded by girls who ask her about her career and her work, so being in the media and having a career helped a lot with her confidence in that sense.
"Her biggest dream is to be an actress or a singer, then a model. So, we are investing in drama and singing classes. Who knows? Maybe she will act next. My advice is to never ever give up. Keep fighting and persist in your dreams, for nothing is impossible. Just want, believe and fight to make them real."
