When Ellen DeGeneres launched her clothing line with Gap Kids, she aimed to provide children with the opportunity to express their authentic selves. On Aug. 22, she did just that with a Gap x ED fashion show held in Miami.
Along with the other tykes who participated in the show was Kayla Kosmalski, a 9-year-old model and pageant queen with down syndrome known as "Princess Kayla."
These #GapKidsxED clothes rock! #runwayhereicome #changingthefaceofbeauty A photo posted by Princess Kayla (@princesskaylascourt) on Aug 22, 2015 at 10:46am PDT
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The show was put on with help from Changing the Face of Beauty, a nonprofit corporation that fights for equal representation of people with disabilities in advertising and media (and the same organization that helped 4-year-old Cora star in a back-to-school ad).
The organization's founder, Katie Driscoll, was asked to provide 10 girls for the Miami show featuring Gap x ED clothing.
“Kayla owned the room when she walked the runway,” Driscoll tells Mashable. “Her bubbly and spunky personality engaged everyone there.”
"I loved it," Kayla told Mashable. "My favorite part was dancing, waving, giving high fives, blowing kisses and making new friends."
And of course @todayshow @klgandhoda were so wonderful #BestDayEver ♡♡♡ #missyoucandoit A photo posted by Princess Kayla (@princesskaylascourt) on Jul 9, 2015 at 6:20pm PDT
Four of the 14 girls that walked the runway in styles from the collection have Down syndrome.
"As a mom, we all worry about our children's futures, and that worry is even bigger as the mom of a child with special needs," Amy Kosmalski, Kayla’s mother, tells Mashable. "I am so proud that Kayla was a part of this event, knowing that this campaign with Changing the Face of Beauty and Gap Lincoln Road is shining a beautiful light on inclusion. After all, this campaign represented our society completely ... filled with incredible inclusion."
Kayla, who is also a dancer, has previously competed in "The Miss You Can Do It" and the "Delaware Miss Amazing" pageant.
I loved loved loved being a model for #gapkidsxed #ellendegeneres #gap and I can't wait to do it again! Thank you #changingthefaceofbeauty #bestdayever A photo posted by Princess Kayla (@princesskaylascourt) on Aug 22, 2015 at 10:01pm PDT
Models with disabilities are increasingly being given the opportunity to rock the runway. Australia-based model Madeline Stuart recently announced she will be walking in New York Fashion Week for FTL Moda.