Rosanne Stuart recalls attending an annual fashion parade with her daughter, Madeline, in their hometown of Brisbane, Australia, in 2015. In the midst of the high-energy glamour on the runway, Madeline, who has limited speech, turned to her mother and firmly announced that she would like to be a model. Stuart, 46, who described her daughter as the kind of tomboy who would slip on a pair leggings and “throw football with the guys”, said that it was not something she had expected from Madeline, but she immediately supported her. More than four years later, Madeline, now 21, is the first person with Down's syndrome to ever stride down a runway as a model during New York Fashion Week. Here: Model Madeline Stuart, who has Down's syndrome, is prepared backstage before the Colleen Morris Presentation of the Spring/Summer 2019 collection during London Fashion Week in London, Britain, September 15, 2018. (Photo by Hannah McKay/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart, who has Down's syndrome, prepares backstage of the Soiree show at London Fashion Week Women's in London, Britain, September 16, 2018. (Photo by Henry Nicholls/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart, who has Down's syndrome, is prepared backstage before walking in the Lulu Et Gigi presentation at New York Fashion Week in New York City, U.S., September 9, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart, who has Down's syndrome, waits backstage as a dress is steamed before a runway show during New York Fashion Week in New York City, U.S., September 9, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart, who has Down's syndrome, sits with her mother and manager Rosanne Stuart (L) in the back of a taxi cab as they travel from John F. Kennedy International Airport to their hotel for New York Fashion Week in New York, U.S., September 5, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart, who has Down's syndrome, walks onto the catwalk for the Colleen Morris presentation of the Spring/Summer 2019 collection during London Fashion Week in London, Britain, September 15, 2018. (Photo by Hannah McKay/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart, who has Down's syndrome, celebrates after stepping out of a taxi cab as she arrives for New York Fashion Week in New York City, U.S., September 5, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart, who has Down's syndrome, stands amongst models backstage after walking in the Burning Guitars presentation during New York Fashion Week in New York City, U.S., September 6, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart stands backstage before walking in the Burning Guitars runway show during New York Fashion Week, New York, U.S., September 6, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart stands backstage between two male models at New York Fashion Week in New York City, U.S., September 6, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart, who has Down's syndrome, prepares backstage of the Soiree show at London Fashion Week Women's in London, Britain, September 16, 2018. (Photo by Henry Nicholls/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart, who has Down's syndrome, is prepared backstage before the Colleen Morris presentation of the Spring/Summer 2019 collection during London Fashion Week in London, Britain, September 15, 2018. (Photo by Hannah McKay/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart is assisted backstage before walking in the Rutu Bhonsle runway show at New York Fashion Week in New York City, U.S., September 8, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart stands on a runway during a rehearsal at the Angel Orensanz Foundation during New York Fashion Week in New York City, U.S., September 9, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart sits in the back of a taxi cab after walking in a runway show during New York Fashion Week in New York City, U.S., September 9, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)





Model Madeline Stuart sits at the Remedy Diner with her mother and manager Rosanne Stuart after walking in a runway show during New York Fashion Week in New York City, U.S., September 6, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)





Rosanne Stuart attempts to cover her daughter, model Madeline Stuart, from falling rain as they walk to a show during New York Fashion Week in New York City, U.S., September 9, 2018. (Photo by Andrew Kelly/Reuters)