Ellie Goldstein, a 22-year-old model from Essex, has made history as the first person with Down's syndrome to feature on the cover of Vogue and to model for a Barbie doll with the condition. Born in December 2001, doctors told her mother Yvonne that Ellie would never walk or talk due to her Down's syndrome diagnosis.
Despite these predictions, Ellie walked by 18 months, spoke by age three, and could read before starting school. She underwent heart surgery at five months old to close holes in her heart, spending 10 days in intensive care. Her mother recalls that after returning home, Ellie's 'cheeky and determined personality' emerged.
Ellie's modelling career began after her mother applied to Zebedee, a talent agency representing people with disabilities. She starred in a Superdrug Christmas advert in 2018 and later graced the cover of Vogue. In 2023, she modelled for the first Barbie doll with Down's syndrome, saying she felt 'honoured and proud'.
Ellie has also published a book titled Against All Odds and recently bought her own home in Essex. She is in her final year of performing arts college and aims to continue modelling and acting. Reflecting on her achievements, she said: 'I always wanted to be a model but I didn't see anyone who looked like me on magazine covers... now I am living my dream.'
Her mother Yvonne hopes attitudes towards Down's syndrome have improved but notes there is still ignorance. 'Often in the street, people ask me questions about Ellie and don't address her,' she said. 'They don't realise she can talk and how big a personality she has.'
