Child with Down syndrome models Burberry
A little boy with Down syndrome is modelling for iconic British fashion brand Burberry.
Seven-year-old Rio Williams has broken boundaries after appearing in its summer childrenswear campaign. The inspirational schoolboy was photographed wearing £220 cotton shorts, a £260 check cashmere scarf and a £950 trench coat in the pictures which appear on Burberry’s...
Seven-year-old Rio Williams has broken boundaries after appearing in its summer childrenswear campaign. The inspirational schoolboy was photographed wearing £220 cotton shorts, a £260 check cashmere scarf and a £950 trench coat in the pictures which appear on Burberry’s...
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Child with Down syndrome models Burberry
A little boy with Down syndrome is modelling for iconic British fashion brand Burberry.
Seven-year-old Rio Williams has broken boundaries after appearing in its summer childrenswear campaign. The inspirational schoolboy was photographed wearing £220 cotton shorts, a £260 check cashmere scarf and a £950 trench coat in the pictures which appear on Burberry’s website.
Rio can also be seen on a blue rocking horse in a short video for the campaign, which was shot in London earlier this year.
“Rio absolutely loves showing off, so he really enjoyed the shoot,” said mum Kim Williams, from Bath.
Just 24 hours after he was born, Rio had to have surgery as his bowel had perforated and it was then that mum Kim found out he had Down syndrome. Rio also suffered breathing problems and spent 45 nights in hospital as doctors tried to help. Eventually, Bristol Children’s hospital found that his windpipe was being severely compressed by vessels from the heart and he had just two millimetres to breathe through.
When he was 11 months old, Rio had cardiac surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital which moved the main vessels from the heart and fixed them away from Rio’s windpipe meaning he could breathe more easily.
The youngster is no stranger to the modelling world and has had numerous jobs, including Primark and Little Bird for Next, since he was signed by inclusive talent agency Zebedee shortly before his first birthday.
“I wasn’t expecting a baby with Down syndrome so I contacted Zebedee because I wanted to do something positive,” said Kim, who is married to Anthony and also has a nine-year-old son Felix.
“Rio has also recently been diagnosed with a rare neck instability and has to be very careful as he can easily damage his spine, so he can’t go to soft play or on bouncy castles.
“He is in and out of hospital a lot so modelling is really positive for Rio and it’s lovely for him and us to have the excitement.
“I know a lot of high street stores have got better at being inclusive when it comes to modelling but it’s nice to see that huge designer brands are now doing that too.”
Owner, Zoe Proctor, from Zebedee said: “It's so fantastic to see such well respected brands like Burberry casting our models and representing disabilities in their campaigns.
“Our expertise enables clients to have access to a vast and diverse network of talent that they just wouldn't get anywhere else.
"We are so very proud of Rio and the images look amazing for this campaign."
Child with Down syndrome models Burberry
A little boy with Down syndrome is modelling for iconic British fashion brand Burberry.
Seven-year-old Rio Williams has broken boundaries after appearing in its summer childrenswear campaign. The inspirational schoolboy was photographed wearing £220 cotton shorts, a £260 check cashmere scarf and a £950 trench coat in the pictures which appear on Burberry’s website.
Rio can also be seen on a blue rocking horse in a short video for the campaign, which was shot in London earlier this year.
“Rio absolutely loves showing off, so he really enjoyed the shoot,” said mum Kim Williams, from Bath.
Just 24 hours after he was born, Rio had to have surgery as his bowel had perforated and it was then that mum Kim found out he had Down syndrome. Rio also suffered breathing problems and spent 45 nights in hospital as doctors tried to help. Eventually, Bristol Children’s hospital found that his windpipe was being severely compressed by vessels from the heart and he had just two millimetres to breathe through.
When he was 11 months old, Rio had cardiac surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital which moved the main vessels from the heart and fixed them away from Rio’s windpipe meaning he could breathe more easily.
The youngster is no stranger to the modelling world and has had numerous jobs, including Primark and Little Bird for Next, since he was signed by inclusive talent agency Zebedee shortly before his first birthday.
“I wasn’t expecting a baby with Down syndrome so I contacted Zebedee because I wanted to do something positive,” said Kim, who is married to Anthony and also has a nine-year-old son Felix.
“Rio has also recently been diagnosed with a rare neck instability and has to be very careful as he can easily damage his spine, so he can’t go to soft play or on bouncy castles.
“He is in and out of hospital a lot so modelling is really positive for Rio and it’s lovely for him and us to have the excitement.
“I know a lot of high street stores have got better at being inclusive when it comes to modelling but it’s nice to see that huge designer brands are now doing that too.”
Owner, Zoe Proctor, from Zebedee said: “It's so fantastic to see such well respected brands like Burberry casting our models and representing disabilities in their campaigns.
“Our expertise enables clients to have access to a vast and diverse network of talent that they just wouldn't get anywhere else.
"We are so very proud of Rio and the images look amazing for this campaign."