It’s no secret that the beauty industry could stand to become more inclusive. (After all, this is the same industry that only just gave supermodel Naomi Campbell her first beauty contract.) In 2019, there’s still a marked lack of representation in beauty campaigns for people of color, plus-size women and people with disabilities, to name just a few.
Which is why 20-year-old model Kate Grant, who has Down Syndrome, is making waves as the newest face of Benefit Cosmetics. In the ad for Benefit’s Roller Liner True Matte Eyeliner, Grant shows off her skills at creating the perfect cat eye.
Grant’s mother, Deirdre, told the Daily Mail UK that her daughter chose to chase her dreams, despite any obstacles, “When you are young you think the sky is the limit and with Kate she does not have the understanding that we have that there are obstacles in the way. She does not allow obstacles to be in the way or her disability to stand in the way. She would say Down’s Syndrome does not define me — I am Kate.”
Grant follows in the footsteps of fellow Down Syndrome models Katie Meade, who starred in a campaign for hair products, and Madeline Stuart, who has walked the runways at fashion week and has appeared on magazine covers. Grant won the Teen Ultimate Beauty Of The World Pageant in early 2018 and is the perfect example of why inclusivity matters. We will definitely be keeping an eye on her burgeoning career.
