Twenty-year-old Alexia Rivera is a model from Long Island, with campaigns for companies including Sephora, Kohl’s, and CVS Beauty. She also has Down syndrome – and after being inspired by another model with Down syndrome, she hopes to inspire other women like her.
Rivera and his parents spoke to CBS News about his career, which began when he started seeing British model Ellie Goldstein. Goldstein, who is signed to Zebedee Management, has modeled in numerous campaigns since signing with them in 2017 but went viral when she became Gucci’s first model with Down syndrome. Since then she has appeared on the digital cover of Allure and on the cover of Glamor Netherlands.
“My disability makes me an inspiration to others. My advice is to always be yourself, and never give up on your hopes and dreams,” Goldstein told Allure. “I’m not like other people. I’m just me. And I made history.”
Those history-making campaigns inspired Rivera. “When she saw Ellie Goldstein on that cover, with Gucci sponsoring it, she was like, ‘She has my face, mom. I want to do this, too,'” says her mother, Alexandria. Now, her face graces ads on Sephora storefronts, as well as on a giant billboard in New York City.
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“I was really excited and choked up. It feels amazing,” Rivera said of seeing herself in her hometown mall. He added, “Women like me, don’t limit yourself. Do it.”
Rivera is also now signed to Zebedee Management, and is proud of the struggles he overcame to get to where he is today; he previously had a stroke and suffered paralysis after being diagnosed Moyamoya disease, a chronic and progressive condition of the arteries in the brain. He also established an inclusive boxing class with his father for the differently-abled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Beauty is definitely within us. It’s not just the outer thing, not the shell. Who you are, how you love and care for others,” said his father, Eddie. Both parents said Rivera now has the opportunity to be the role model for other girls that Goldstein was for her.
“Seeing him out there, seeing something that we didn’t think was possible years and years ago, it’s amazing how the world is becoming more accepting and diverse and more inclusive,” Alexandria said, while added Eddie, “What I see is an opportunity for other individuals. to say, ‘Hey, if he can do it, I can do it.'”
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