Baby’s Smile Warms Hearts, Wins Over Advertisers

Valentina Guerrero's DC Kids catalog cover

There must be something in the air. Or, in our collective consciousness.

Yet another brand has chosen a model with Down syndrome for their marketing materials. Along with Target, Nordstrom and Toys R Us, all of whom have used models with Down syndrome, the Spanish swimwear designer Dolores Cortés has gone even further — using 10-month-old Valentina Guerrero as the face of her baby swimsuit line, DC Kids.

Valentina is on the cover of DC Kids catalog and made her runway debut at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Miami. The tiny beauty has caused quite a ruckus with People Magazine, AdWeek and The Huffington Post all featuring stories on the adorable daughter of Miami TV host Cecilia Elizalde. The Examiner’s coverage of Valentina’s blossoming modeling career includes photos from the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s Be Beautiful Be Yourself Gala last year in Washington, D.C.

We have a lot of people to thank. How about a new bathing suit by Cortés? Or, support for the other retailers who’ve used kids with Down syndrome? The media feels like it’s changing, getting more inclusive, with “Glee” and “American Horror Story” using people with Down syndrome in their story lines. Hurrah for all those who see the beauty in “our” kids.

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