This Girl With Down’s Syndrome Is Taking Social Media By Storm As She Is Attracting Attention From Modelling Agencies Across The World

By Liana Jacob

 

MEET the stunning girl with Down’s syndrome who is taking the internet by storm after a social media post attracted the attention of modelling agencies.

 

Stay-at-home-mum, Rubia Traebert (44), from Curitiba, Brazil, and her husband, Herman, were living in Boston, USA, for two-and-a-half-years before she fell pregnant with their daughter, Georgia (now 14).

 

Rubia and Herman wanted to deliver their daughter in Brazil to be close to family, so in July 2003, when she was five-months pregnant, they moved back to their hometown.

 

In November 2003, they had a shock when Georgia was born, as she was diagnosed with heart disease and Down’s syndrome (DS), a genetic disorder that usually causes some level of learning disability and certain physical characteristics.

 

She had to undergo heart surgery at just five-months-old which was successful, and her mum quit her job to look after her full-time.

 

Due to the difficulty of changing schools many times due to the quality of care Georgia received regarding her DS, Georgia found it hard to settle and find friends, particularly because girls her age didn’t have the ‘patience’ for her due to her developmental delays.

 

In June 2016, Rubia decided to post a picture of Georgia to help inspire other children with DS which received over 1,000 likes.

 

Georgia has since been acting in commercials, singing on stage and her social media presence has attracted the attention of modelling agencies, increasing her confidence.

 

“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,” Rubia said.

 

“Naturally, at first 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. We can say that was the day she was reborn.

 

“Soon after the mourning was over, we went through the struggle. I’ve always tried to really stimulate Georgia at home.

 

“I played, I sang, I danced with her – the stimulation was done daily at home by myself. I quit my career to dedicate myself entirely to her and it worked, as you can see.

 

“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.

 

“When we came back to Brazil her kindergarten class was already new and her peers were new. It was the hardest time. On top of this, some schools I wanted to put her in didn’t want to accept her.

 

“Georgia has always been very vain since she was little; she always liked clothes, bags, makeup and I always liked it too, so I believe she mirrored me. I would parade her around, sing for her and I didn’t know that this would drive her career.”

 

Most babies born with DS are diagnosed at birth and some characteristics of the condition are; floppiness, eyes that slant upwards and outwards, a small mouth with a tongue that may stick out, a flat back of the head, below-than-average weight and height at birth and their palm may have only one crease across it.

 

Those born with DS will have some level of learning disability, but this can differ for each person. Some parents find out that their baby has DS through screening tests before the birth, which includes; chorionic villus sampling (a small sample of the placenta which is tested, usually during weeks 11 to 14 of pregnancy).

 

Another screening method is amniocentesis (a sample of amniotic fluid tested usually during weeks 15 to 20 of pregnancy).

 

Rubia has since helped Georgia embrace her talents and journey with DS by posting pictures of her on social media.

 

“It all started as a joke; I posted a picture of her on Facebook and it was a hit straight away. The idea see how much it can inspire other DS children,” she said.

 

“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.

 

“She loves her life and is thankful every day for her success and for being so happy. We should all be like her; thankful for our lives rather than complain.

 

“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.

 

“Friends and family tell us that we are two warriors and that we serve as an example for many mothers and children with special needs.

 

“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.”