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Friday 23 November 2012

The First Full Time Model With Down's Syndrome



The first ever full time model with Down's Syndrome?  That's what we thought when Jamie was younger.  Just look at this picture of him as a toddler.  Isn't he the most adorable child ever?  I mean, I know I'm not exactly unbiased, but come on ... surely it's just a statement of fact that he was a beautiful little boy?  Surely he was destined to be modelling clothes for Debenhams within a few years, and appearing in television adverts for breakfast cereals?  








He was so photogenic, and loved putting on a coy little smile for the camera.
  
Look at this school photo from when he was six.  Don't you just want to pinch his cheeks?

Obviously this kid has a great future ahead of him parading up and down Paris catwalks, the face of Dolce & Gabbana, and the subject of a great deal of media interest?







Yes, I know some people reading this might think the idea of pushing your special needs child into the spotlight is cruel and exploitative, but to those people I say this - shut up!  He won't care about that if it gives us enough money to take him to Disneyland.

Well anyway, it was all going so well (by which I mean I had done absolutely nothing about it, but still thought it was a realistic option for the future) until recently.  For some reason, over the past year or so, Jamie has developed a rather annoying habit - instead of smiling for the camera, he has started sticking his tongue out instead.

These are more recent photos:




We did not buy his official school photo this year.   We were sent miniature proofs - about ten of them - all with his tongue out.  I can imagine the poor photographer pleading with him just to give a nice smile for a split second.  "Come on Jamie, please smile, this is my livelihood."

Why does he do it?  Because he knows it upsets us.  He thinks it's hilarious when we yell "put your tongue away" at him.  Well, it's going to backfire on him.  He won't be laughing when he finds out where we are going on holiday next year (hint - it's not Disneyland).

So that's it - modelling dream over...unless...unless there happens to be a modelling agency representative reading this who is desperately searching for a model for a photoshoot where a special needs child is sticking his tongue out to camera.  If so, please feel free to get in touch.  

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