Book IWD Speaker: Ellie Goldstein

First Model with Down Syndrome to Appear on Front Cover of Vogue Magazine & Ambassador for Mattel's First Barbie with Down Syndrome

Ellie Goldstein is a model and actress whose career has reshaped expectations across fashion, television, and popular culture. She rose to global prominence as the first model with Down Syndrome to appear on the front cover of Vogue and to front an international campaign for Gucci, a landmark moment for representation that resonated far beyond the industry.

Her success in fashion quickly opened doors on screen. Ellie was cast as Nancy Maher in the BBC’s Malory Towers, delivering a performance that earned her a nomination for a Children’s and Family Emmy Award. That recognition placed her firmly among a new generation of actors challenging who gets to be seen and celebrated on mainstream television.

Ellie’s growing public profile has seen her appear on programmes including Good Morning Britain and Loose Women, where she speaks with warmth and clarity about identity, ambition, and visibility. In 2025, she reached new audiences as a contestant on the 23rd series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Vito Coppola, and also appeared on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off, showing a relaxed, humorous side that viewers connected with instantly.

Away from the screen, Ellie is also an author. Her autobiography, Against All Odds, charts her journey with honesty and confidence, while her children’s book Ellie introduces young readers to themes of inclusivity and growing up with Down Syndrome.

Ellie Goldstein is now a popular International Women’s Day speaker and influencer because she embodies progress without pretence. She speaks about opportunity, self-belief, and equality through lived experience, inspiring audiences worldwide to rethink limitation and recognise potential, in every space where women’s voices matter.

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