Despite making up around 24% of the population, models with visible disabilities feature in only 0.02% of fashion campaigns. 21-year-old Ellie Goldstein is on a mission to even the playing field. ‘I hope to be a role model for people who want to pursue this career, but feel shut out due to fashion's history with disabled people. I want to open the door and share my story in a way that sticks.’
Last week, she released, Against All Odds, a truly inspiring and a times heartbreaking memoir documenting her life so far as a model with Down syndrome. ‘Writing the book took a lot of teamwork, many Zooms and writing sessions to make sure I told my story in a way that felt true to me’, she says, returning to Zoom to speak to ELLE UK from her Essex home. She is joined by her mother Yvonne Goldstein, who features heavily in the book.
We're speaking three years on from Goldstein's modelling debut. After being scouted on Instagram, she landed a boundary-breaking Gucci Beauty campaign – one that garnered over 800,000 likes, making it the brand’s most-liked post. The 21-year-old has since appeared in campaigns for the likes of Adidas and Victoria’s Secret, all whilst continuing to share a message of radical self-love and acceptance to her ever-growing legion of fans.
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One of them was fellow beauty activist Katie Piper, 'After appearing on Loose Women (in 2022), she asked me if I had ever considered writing about my life, both about my experience growing up with Down syndrome and my career since the Gucci Beauty campaign. She really advocated for me alongside my mother to get my story out there.'
The book is the first title to be released as a part of Katie Piper's UnSeen initiative, an imprint that aims to shine a light on untold stories of hope.
It may look like success happened overnight, but Goldstein has wanted a career in fashion since she was five years old. 'I walked up and down the living room, and my mum said, "So, you want to be a model then?" She hopes the book offers readers, 'A sense of my personality. I want people to understand just how many nos took place. I talk about my highs, yes, but it also touches on everything from my time in school to my dating life – and the differences in these experiences for me as someone with Down syndrome.'
Yvonne recounts difficulties with her daughter's former headteacher. 'She constantly called us with complaints of reasonably minor behavioural problems that were normal for a child with Down syndrome. Another teacher even went as far as to blame any bit of damage at the school on Ellie, building a case for her to be expelled. She wasn't successful, but that’s because we fought back.'
Now 21, having landed lucrative campaigns and a slew of magazine covers, Goldstein says, 'I hope my book can begin to break down some of the misconceptions about Down syndrome, I want people to reconsider the idea that people with Down syndrome can’t really achieve much’, a recurring theme explored deeply in the book.
When it comes to the fashion industry, she says, ‘There is room for improvement. I want to see more models like me – on red carpets and in fashion campaigns – especially when all the cameras are flashing. It's so fun! I don’t see why it shouldn't be inclusive space.’
Outside of modelling – and writing – Goldstein loves to dance. 'I think everyone should do it really. During the writing process, I went to classes twice a week as it was a form of self-care. I can't stress enough the confidence and boldness that I feel when dancing. It really feeds into my modelling.'
Fashion, of course, played a significant part in the writing process. Goldstein shares that her book-writing uniform was a careful balance of practical, but cute. ' I wore mostly T-shirts and my favourite paisley skirt.'
As for her hopes for the book, 'Firstly, I hope people read it' she laughs. Though the ultimate goal is for readers to experience the same impact writing had on her. 'I want people to learn to believe in themselves.'
Against All Odds by Ellie Goldstein, with a foreword by Kate Piper, is available to buy now (SPCK Publishing, £16.99).
