Like many women her age Carolyn Earle loves the process of physical transformation.
But when Carolyn emerges with her face made up, people take notice, but not in the most positive way.
“People do comment when Carolyn dresses up, which she loves, but it’s interesting the way they react,” Carolyn’s mother, Sandy Earle, said.
“It’s almost like it’s a surprise, so we need to get to the stage where people don’t necessarily react at all.”
Carolyn, 24, has joined forces with stylist and disability advocate Nerida Lamprill to promote her book – Love My Shape – designed to help people with disabilities to embrace their shape and raise their self esteem.
The two women met last month at the World Down Syndrome conference in India.
“People make judgements on people’s intellect and capabilities based on their disabilities and what they look like so, unfortunately, for people with Down syndrome there is that judgment straight away because of how they look,” Nerida, who also has a teenage son with Down syndrome, said.
“So we are trying to help them present themselves in a bid to break down that stereotype of what people think Down syndrome is about.”
Earlier this year Australian model Madeline Stuart made headlines when she hit the catwalk for New York Fashion Week.
“When I saw what Madeline had done I just felt really, really good,” Carolyn said.
“And I love what Nerida is doing because it’s very educational and it certainly helps with my self esteem.”
For more information about Lamprill’s book visit www.successfoundations.com.au.
