2014 Be Beautiful Be Yourself DC Gala Models
Michelle Andrade
Gabriela Bautista
DeOndra Dixon
Charlotte Fonfara-LaRose
Julie Amanda Green
Brandon Gruber
Kendra Hager
Michelle Andrade
Michelle is 17 years old and attends Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, Maryland. She has a Latin heritage, and her parents are from Bolivia. She has a happy and caring personality, always wanting to help others. Michelle is in 11th grade and has a variety of talents, including singing, acting, performing and cheerleading. She has been involved in various groups such as Girl Scouts, swimming, Special Olympics, Denise Shore Academy and Imagination Stage. Special thanks to her family and friends for supporting her in what she loves to do. She is very honored and blessed to model at the Be Beautiful Be Yourself DC Gala.
Gabriela Bautista
Gabriela is 12 years old and attends Charles Town Middle School in West Virginia. She’s in the sixth grade. Gabby speaks two languages and understands some sign language. She is very active and does many activities such as swimming, basketball, cheerleading and soccer. She participates in Special Olympics, doing track, long jump and softball throw. She has a team named Gabby’s Team for the Buddy Walk. Gabby loves spending time with family and traveling. Her favorite color is Pink. For the last four years, she has been featured in a calendar for the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia. When she grows up, she wants to be a doctor. Gabby is a fun and lovable daughter.
DeOndra Dixon
DeOndra is the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s 2011 Ambassador and 2009 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award recipient. She lives in Westlake, California, and continues her education at Tierra Del Sol Foundation School, where she also has a job in the school cafeteria. She is the recipient of a schoolwide poetry award. DeOndra has won several medals in the Special Olympics, including in shot put, track and field, bowling and soccer. She has traveled to Washington, D.C., and San Antonio to advocate on behalf of people with Down syndrome.
Charlotte Fonfara-LaRose
Charlotte is 11 years old, lives in Annapolis, Maryland, and is a proud big sister to Noelle. She is in the fourth grade at Central Elementary, where she loves math and reading and is very popular. Charlotte is a member of the competitive cheerleading team Maryland Twisters Storm Chasers. She loves swimming (she’s a mermaid in the water), paddle boarding, horseback riding, karate and dancing. Her love of music includes a love of Michael Jackson, Katy Perry and Big Time Rush. Charlotte loves to travel and spend time with her family, especially her grandmothers and cousins. To paraphrase something her beloved grandfather, Bobpa, once said, “Charley has made us all better people.” And truer words were never spoken.
Julie Amanda Green
Julie is an 18-year-old from Morgantown, West Virginia. She is a true miracle. Born with severe heart defects, she was given “less than a 10% chance to survive.” Today, she’s a thriving, exuberant, loving high school senior active in Special Olympics, competitive cheerleading, church, 4-H, school plays; and anything social involving the “hot boys.” She’s motivated by the quote: “If you asked me what I came into this world to do … I came to LIVE OUT LOUD.” She lives with her parents and brother, Stephen Edward (named for her cardiologist, Stephen Shapiro; her surgeon, Edward Bove; and her beloved grandpap, A. Edward Warsinsky).
Brandon Gruber
Brandon is a junior and self-advocate from California. He is a member of the Santa Cruz Youth City Council, earns A’s and B’s, and was on the basketball and track teams. Brandon was a recipient of the CEC International Yes I Can! Award for the Arts category for acting, modeling and visual arts. He’s won other awards for his art, athletics, academics and citizenship. He loves music and to travel, which inspires his destination paintings. His lifetime goal is to move to Hollywood to pursue his acting and modeling career. Beyond all of his gifts, Brandon’s brightest light is the one he shines on others through his love, friendship and compassion.
Kendra Hager
Kendra is a 16-year-old sophomore who attends Saint Albans High and resides in Charleston, West Virginia. Kendra is currently a high school cheerleader with a drive, passion and determination that sets her apart from others. She is a bubble full of life, desire and flair, looking for the right place to surge her talents and personality. Kendra really enjoys her friends, teammates and family, and lets everyone know that her mom is her best friend. She loves social media, and one of her favorite things to do is post “selfies.” Kendra’s smile will light up the room.
Hannah Dameana Hart
Hannah is 25 years old. She was born in Blantyre, Malawi. In 1990 the family moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where Hannah could get into a program with UNC-Chapel Hill at Frank Porter Child Development Center. In 1995-1997, Hannah and her brother attended the International School of Phnom Phen, Cambodia. In 1997, her family moved back to Chapel Hill, then to Arnold, Maryland, in 2004. She graduated from Broadneck High in 2010. Hannah is an athlete for Special Olympics in track, swimming, bowling and kayaking. Her favorite activity is cheerleading with the Maryland Twisters, Eye of the Storm. Hannah loves music. She is now working at Opportunity Builders Inc., and is a host at Genghis Grill at Waugh-Chapel, Maryland.
Ashley Lucas
Ashley is a native Washingtonian. She is affectionately called “Tweety” by family and friends. Ashley was previously employed at Children’s National Medical Center and the Department on Disability Services. Ashley currently attends RCM of Washington, where she is expanding her job readiness skills. She is a member of the DC-based PALS organization, which is a parent, advocacy, leadership and support group. Ashley enjoys cooking. She furthered her culinary expertise at Lifeline Churches’ Healthy Cooking, Healthy Eating classes. Other activities include singing and dancing. Her favorite singing group is gospel duo Mary Mary. One of Ashley’s goals is to attend college to study music.
Kelly Lyons
Kelly, age 11, is a survivor. She survived a dozen surgeries, including open heart surgery, and then battled leukemia before the age of 5. Originally from Indiana, she now calls Wisconsin home. She is the first child to be fully included in her school district. Her successes led the way to the schools ripping down walls to the special ed classes there. Kelly enjoys traveling and has hiked in Switzerland, Hawaii, Colorado and Wyoming. Next year she looks forward to visiting France. She loves music, especially Taylor Swift and One Direction. Kelly hopes to be a dental hygienist someday.
Mary Miller
Mary, a 9 year old 3rd-grader, is thrilled to debut in this year’s fashion show! She is a fan of musical theater and enjoys performing for her family and friends. Mary is passionate about singing, dancing and making YouTube videos exhibiting her talent, one of which has earned over 50,000 views. This summer, Mary looks forward to attending drama camp, swimming and going on adventures with her big sisters. Mary has a precocious sense of humor, encouraged by her ability to make people laugh. Her benevolent personality and sweet nature captures hearts. Enlightenment follows in her wake; she is changing the world.
Devin Mitchell
Devin is an 11-year-old girl from Maryland who will light up a room when she enters. She is constantly dancing and signing, and cracking jokes with her sisters. Devin always makes time for her two yellow Labs and reads them a bedtime story every night. She loves to bounce on the trampoline, play basketball and cheer with her Special Olympics cheerleading team. Devin is in fifth grade in an inclusive classroom where she enjoys being a safety patrol, learning and spending time with her friends. She loves to go to the movies and to concerts. She especially loves Selena Gomez and is looking forward to seeing One Direction!
Jose Luis Moreno-Campuzano
Jose was born on February 24, 2007, in Woodbridge, Virginia, and currently lives with his family in Stafford, Virginia. He is the son of Jose L. Moreno and Maria G. Campuzano. He has two brothers, Sahid and Jesus. He is the oldest son, and like his brothers, he was born with Down syndrome. He is a first-grader at Margaret Brent Elementary School. Jose is a very happy child; he loves music, playing with his brothers, watching cartoons, playing in the park and attending school. Together with his family, Jose participates in the various activities organized by the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia. He is also a member of the Hispanic support group “Unidos Por Amor.”
Katherine Felicia Norton
Katherine is the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s 2014 Ambassador. She is 43 years old and lives in Washington, DC, where her mom, Eleanor Holmes Norton, represents DC in Congress. She loves to dance, do puzzles and perform in pantomimes. Katherine graduated from high school and lives on Capitol Hill, where Ms. Howard has been caring for her when her mom is at the Capitol for the past 20 years. She attends the Art and Drama Therapy Institute in Northeast Washington, where she takes part in drama lessons, music sessions and art workshops. She especially loves Japanese theater. Katherine likes to go to the movies and get dressed up for plays. She also loves to spend time with family and friends, go shopping and help with chores. She loves her family, especially her mother, her father, her brother and her new nephew.
Michael Jahi Queen
Michael, known as Jahi to family, was born on August 24, 1994, in Washington, DC. Jahi is now a student at Frederick A. Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, where he participates in the corollary sports program, which consists of bocce, track and field, and indoor softball. He is a member of the FDHS Marching Eagles band. After school, Jahi participates in several Special Olympics sports, including cycling, bowling, basketball and bocce. On Sundays Jahi attends Ebenezer AME Church, where serves on the usher board. He loves to help in the kitchen; baking and cooking breakfast are his favorites.
Cole Rodgers
Cole is the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s 2013 Ambassador. He is 7 years old and loves music, school and peanut butter. His family is from Eastern Washington State, but most of the time, he lives in Washington, DC, where his mom, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, is a congresswoman. He has a little sister, Grace. Cole spends most of his time playing. He loves music, cars and kicking balls, and he has fun at school with his friends. Along with his teachers, his mom and dad help him learn through my homework, teach him how to behave and teach him to care about others. His parents think that he needs to learn all of the same lessons as everyone else.
Alex Sessions
Alex is 20 and lives in Dallas, Texas. He is in 12th grade and is looking forward to vocational training at the Notre Dame School of Dallas. He is the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s 2011 Ambassador and the 2012 recipient of the Respectful Commitment Award from the New York ARC, and a proud Eagle Scout. As a Special Olympian, he has medaled in track, basketball and swimming. He spends his free time watching action movies, dancing and listening to music, especially Michael Jackson. He loves being a public speaker and likes giving the prayer, especially to large groups.
Frank Stephens
Frank, a Global Messenger for Special Olympics from Fairfax, Virginia, uses his special gifts to be a spokesperson for himself and others similarly situated. In October of 2012, he was at the center of a very public debate over the continued power of the “r-word” to casually demean people with intellectual disabilities. Frank wrote an open letter to political commentator Ann Coulter after her use of the term to describe the president. As a result of his letter “going viral” and his appearance on “Piers Morgan Tonight,” Frank has made more than 3 million new friends via social media. Frank, also an actor, is featured in a film called “The Senior Prank.” He has also written a film, “Common Dreams.”
Keegan Turner
Keegan is 7 years old and the son of Chris and Hayley Turner. He is a second-grader at West Friendship Elementary in Marriottsville, Maryland. Keegan loves school, with his favorite subject being reading. He can usually be found carrying around a pile of books for you to read to him. Keegan is a big fan of Thomas the Tank Engine, Batman and Yo Gabba Gabba. He also loves puzzles and board games, driving around in his power wheel car outside, or chasing after his two older brothers, Gavin and Atley.
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