Landing a campaign is a big deal for a model, but an even bigger deal for Valentina Guerrero. Swimwear designer Dolores Cortes has named the 10-month-old, who has Down Syndrome, the face of her kids’ collection.

While other models with Down Syndrome have appeared here and there in ads and catalogs, Cortes is a pioneer in giving this young star top billing. Valentina appears on the cover of the catalog and in 2013 DC Kids ads. She even debuted on the runway last week in Cortes’s fashion show in Miami. The Spanish designer comments, “People with Down Syndrome are just as beautiful and deserve the same opportunities. I’m thrilled to have Valentina modeling for us.” Anyone who purchases a cute suit from the DC Kids collection will be supporting kids like Valentina; 10% of profits go to the Down Syndrome Association of Miami.

Back in 2008, when we were living in Spain, my son did a shoot for Gocco, an upscale children’s clothing line. Several children with Down Syndrome were booked for the catalog. In one shot, my five-year-old bounced on a bed with one of these sweet kids. The two had a grand time, giggling away like long-time pals. I could tell that when my son looked at his fellow model, he saw a regular kid, not unlike any of the typical model kids on set—and just as beautiful. If enough people follow Dolores Cortes’s example, perhaps we will all start to see beauty so clearly.

Gocco Catalog

Gocco Catalog

Stay tuned for an update on my kid modeling series and the answer to the question: How much money will your wee one net on a Toys-R-Us booking if Mom gets a parking ticket outside the studio?