Vogue model with Down syndrome makes her television debut

Ellie Goldstein, the young woman from Great Britain who made history as the first model with Down syndrome to be on the cover of Vogue magazine, is making her debut on television.

Goldstein plays Nancy in the TV adaptation of Enid Blyton’s “Malory Towers,” a drama that takes place in post-war England. The show is in its sixth season. Goldstein’s debut takes place on the episode premiering on June 30th. 

“I am so honoured to have been a part of the fantastic series Malory Towers,” Goldstein told the BBC. “I’m beyond excited to see my episodes and share them with everyone. I absolutely love acting and feel so lucky to have worked with such a wonderful cast and crew.”

Goldstein has proudly broken through barriers and secured prestigious positions (like gracing the cover of Vogue), defying the many misconceptions about people with Down syndrome. In fact, she’s especially defied the doctors, who told her parents when she was still in the womb that their little girl would never walk or talk. 

Model Ellie Goldstein shares her story | Newsround

“I have proven them wrong,” she said in an interview with Yahoo! Life in 2024.

As hundreds of thousands of people have applauded Goldstein on social media, the painful irony speaks loudly: the majority of babies with Down syndrome are aborted because of their genetic condition. Even Vogue, which proudly promoted its cover of Goldstein (and rightly so), has promoted abortion.

In the United States, 60-90% of babies with Down syndrome are aborted. In the UK, nearly 9 in 10 babies with Down syndrome were aborted in 2021.

But stories like Goldstein’s prove that people with Down syndrome — who may never be featured on magazine covers or act in television dramas — still live beautiful, meaningful lives and fulfill their dreams. Some might become coffee shop owners, or medal-winning power lifters, or triathletes, or dance company directors, or football players, or attorneys, or runners, or college students.

But no matter what they choose to do in life, they are valuable people worthy of life and love.

Goldstein has said, “People need to see more people like me out there in the world.” And she’s right.