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A local 4-year-old was recently in the spotlight at New York Fashion Week, where she strutted down the runway to model runway fashions.
Estelle Lemieux appeared as one of the 60 models on the “Dream Runway,” a one-of-a-kind fashion show presented by Coles titled “Fashion Revolution.” The seventh annual show was held on September 12 at the Glasshouse in New York City.
“It was such an eye-opening experience for her. She has never been exposed to so many people of all kinds of disabilities/differences. I think it definitely helped her understand and accept her disability/wheelchair,” said Amy Lemieux, Estelle’s mother.
Amy and Douglas Lemieux’s daughter, Estelle, has Spinal Atrophy Type 2. She started showing symptoms around 6 months, but wasn’t diagnosed until she was 16 months because it took so long to get the right diagnosis.
Lemieux was lucky enough to have her daughter receive all three FDA-approved treatments, including Zolgensma, the world’s most expensive treatment for the neuromuscular disorder, at a cost of $2.1 million. She also takes medication daily and receives treatments to help her develop muscle mass and fight the chronically progressive disease without treatment.
“This short trip to New York was very interesting for her to take a few days off from her treatments. We got to explore the city and walk to Time Square. Estelle loved the hustle and bustle and the fantastic lights. We went to the M&M store, the American Girl toy store, Disney and also Harry Potter. She had a blast,” her mother said.
The Dream Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to inclusion, acceptance and opportunity for people with disabilities in the fashion industry. The evening featured tailored apparel and footwear from popular brands such as Kohl’s, Target, Zappos.com, JCPenney, Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive, No Limbits and Stride Rite. Steve Madden has teamed up with French Toast adapter, Steamware and Magnetic brands to showcase their new adapter collections.
Estelle flips the runway three times and starts tearing up when she realizes the show is over. After they returned from their trip, Lemieux brought up the different models her daughter had met, saying, “That’s how their bodies are made, and it’s okay to be different.”
Lemieux loves that Estelle is curious about other people.
“She’s seeing that God makes us all special. This is what is so important and needed about what Runway of Dreams is doing. Society wants more exposure. People with disabilities should be seen everywhere, including fashion and advertising. It is time to normalize people with disabilities,” she said.
Lemieux tells her daughter that the world would be a boring place if everyone looked the same, and she says that Estelle is starting to see that.
“She still speaks for herself. She can do whatever she wants in life,” Lemieux said. “We just need to do some things a little differently and that’s okay. She has such a positive and bright spirit for such a young girl. We’re so proud of her.”
Estelle started her modeling career a year ago. She is signed with Model Club in Boston and GAMUT Management in New York, a talent management company working with people with disabilities.
The fashion show wasn’t Estelle’s first modeling experience – she did shoots for Hasbro toys and was featured in the children’s book “Gary’s Gigantic Dream” by Nicole Julia.
Follow her on her Facebook page “Estelles SMAmazing Journey” or on Instagram @RaisingaRaregirl.
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