Ellie Goldstein has modelled for Vogue, Gucci, Adidas and Victoria’s Secret (Image: Alice Webb)
Like many little girls, Ellie Goldstein dreamed of becoming a supermodel one day. “I had a pretend catwalk in my home,” says the now 22-year-old, who also remembers wearing sparkly outfits and raiding her sister’s make-up box at every opportunity. “I was posing at every stop. It was good fun.”
But Ellie’s playful dress-up was no mere fantasy. Because today she really is living her dream, having modelled for major fashion campaigns from Gucci and Adidas tolingerie brand Victoria’s Secret.
Ambitious and fearless, Ellie, who is from Essex, also happens to have Down’s syndrome. In May last year she made history as the first model with the condition to grace the cover of Vogue magazine.
With her shining green eyes and long raven hair, she’s become a trailblazer for inclusivity in an industry that has long underrepresented people with disabilities.
Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition caused by having an extra chromosome by chance. Doctors said it meant Ellie may never be able to walk or talk – but she has never let it hold her back.
She says: “[I stay confident] by my personality, I feel confident in my voice.”
As one of the estimated 24% of Britons who are classed as disabled, Ellie’s self-belief is a shining inspiration not only to anyperson with a learning disability but any fashion industry hopeful.
Which is why the Daily Express is supporting the Represent the 24% campaign, reflecting the fact disabled people make up nearly a quarter of the UK population.
Speaking ahead of today’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Ellie has one piece of invaluable advice to any aspiring creative. “Be yourself, be confident and follow what you want in life and just go for it,” she says, with her cover-winning smileon show.
Ellie is represented by the inclusive talent agency Zebedee, which a family friend recommended to her mum Yvonne. Its founder, Zoe Proctor, signed Ellie for a trial when she was 15 – and immediately realised her potential. Just eight months later she was one of the faces of Superdrug’s Christmas television advert.
Ellie practically bursts with pride thinking back to that first job. “I loved everything, I loved it all. The best part was the clothes,” she grins.
Her career then snowballed as she featured in some of the biggest magazines worldwide.
In 2020 she made history as the firstmodel with Down’s syndrome to appear in a Gucci Beauty ad, starring in the luxury label’s Unconventional Beauty campaign, which supported emerging talent and promoted “unconventional and non-stereotypical beauty”.
Showing Ellie with just a dab of mascara, the online image racked up more than 800,000 likes – becoming the Italian cosmetic brand’s most-liked post ever.
And last year Ellie “broke the internet” – the idiom referencing individuals who create a colossal reaction online – with her historic Vogue picture.
She recalls: “My agency called me and Mum and said, ‘Would you like to do a shoot for Vogue?’ I was like, ‘Yes!’ But I didn’t know I was going to be on the cover until afterwards – and the day before.”
At the time, Ellie was studying performing arts at New City College in East London. When she heard the news, her fellow dancers crowded around her with hugs and choruses of congratulations.
“I was very emotional, I was crying,” says Ellie. “I was very proud of myself and very happy. Obviously a big dream came true for me in my life.” It was her mum Yvonne who helped Ellie defy expectations from an early age, always choosing with her husband to focus on her daughter’s ability rather than her condition.
Ellie attends the Glamour Women of The Year Awards 2023 (Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Bright and capable, Ellie attended a mainstream school and had the reading age of an 18-year-old when she was just 11.
She has now appeared on the covers of Glamour Magazine, Elle, Mission Mag and Euphoria Magazine, has written a book, Against All Odds, about her life so far and has ambitions to act.
Most recently, her passion for inclusivity has earned her the role as an ambassador for Mencap, the UK charity that supports and champions people with learning disabilities.
“I help spread awareness of all the amazing work they do to challenge misconceptions about learning disabilities,” Ellie explains. “I feel proud of what I have done and to inspire people with disabilities. It’s been really great.”
Her campaigning is essential – a recent survey by Mencap found that 33 million Britons are unable to classify what a learning disability is.
The same poll also revealed that 25% of people have never seen people with a learning disability represented in the media.
Ellie is part of “Mencap Myth Busters”, a group of the charity’s ambassadors who are using their voice to change the public’s perception of what living with a learning disability is really like. The model uses her huge online platform to help: she has 85,000 followers on alone.
This year she published her second book, a self-titled children’s picture story about her journey from childhood to international fashion model. She hopes the powerful story provides young people with “determination to overcome challenges despite the assumptions of others”.
Ellie also promoted the first Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome, which was unveiled by maker Mattel this summer.
“When I saw the doll, I felt so emotional and proud,” Ellie wrote on . “It means a lot to me that children will be able to play with the doll and learn that everyone is different. I am proud that Barbie chose me to show the dolls to the world.
“Diversity is important as people need to see more people like me out there in the world and not be hidden away. Barbie will help make this happen.”
Like any high-end model, Ellie enjoys wearing beautifully made garments. “My best one was the gold sequin one, it was the best dress I’ve ever worn in my whole entire life,” she says of her Gucci campaign outfit.
But she’s just at home in outfits from high-street brands – revealing that Zara and Primark are two of her firm favourites.
Ellie’s historic Vogue cover from April 2023 (Image: Adama Jalloh)
Ellie is now increasingly focused on her growing career outside of modelling, having taken the plunge into the world of acting.
She recently landed a part in a new children’s television adaptation of Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers, which was commissioned for two more series this year.
“It’s been a good experience, I love the whole cast and crew,” says Ellie, who plays history-obsessed pupil Nancy.
She hopes to do more travelling in the future, too, with hopes to visit the United States, but – ever ambitious – she has one dream she’s desperate to realise.
“I definitely want to go on ,” she shares. “I’ve seen it live with my mum and it’s so amazing, and I want tobe on it.”
She is already putting in the hard work, revealing that she is “dancing in the morning and dancing at night”.
“It is my absolute passion,” she laughs. “I love to dance”… and act and write and model.
Ellie’s list of passions is ever-growing, just like her talent.
Actor Tommy Jessop played Terry Boyle in the popular BBC drama Line of Duty (Image: BBC/World Productions/Steffan Hill)
British champions with learning disabilities
Actor Tommy Jessop
Tommy, 39, who has Down’s syndrome, won legions of fans with his performance as Terry Boyle in 1 police drama Line of Duty. More recently, the actor journeyed to Los Angeles to pitch his superhero film to executives.
Swimmer Jessica-Jane Applegate
Multi-gold-winning Paralympian Jessica-Jane is an unstoppable force of nature having won 23 major medals since 2012. The 26-year-old, who has autism, competes in S14 swimming events and won her second 200m Freestyle title at last year’s Para Swimming World Championships, a decade after winning gold at London 2012.
Rock popstar Daniel Wakeford
Singer-songwriter Daniel, from Brighton, has been creating music since 2009 and has a fanbase stretching across the world. He has played gigs at Bestival in the Isle of Wight and Stockholm City Hall, where he performed his track with a 21-piece orchestra. Daniel has autism and a speech and language disorder.
Theatre usher Aisha Edwards
Londoner Aisha adores being an usher at the Young Vic Theatre and regards her colleagues as family members. “I want to show that people with a learning disability can thrive at work and in their relationships, even if they were told they’d never amount to anything at school,” she says.
Baker and business owner Michael Beynon
The first man in Wales to run a marathon with Down’s syndrome, Michael has turned his talents to baking and owns his own company, Coal Pit Welsh Cakes. He says: “I want people to know people like me can run a successful business.”