Outshining Down syndrome
MORNINGSIDE – Former Brescia House learner Victoria Giuricich is making the waves in the modelling industry despite her Down syndrome condition.
Victoria Giuricich is a 21-year-old Morningside resident living with trisomy 21 commonly known as Down syndrome. Despite her battle with the disorder, Giuricich has done well academically and in her modelling career.
October is International Down Syndrome Awareness Month, which aims to celebrate and recognise individuals living with the disease while also raising awareness. According to paediatrician Dr Coopoo Kevanya, Down syndrome is a genetic disorder, where an individual living with the disease has an extra chromosome. “A person living with the disease will encounter certain challenges [for example] with learning and other features in the body. Down syndrome can be random or one can inherit it from the mother.
However, if one is diagnosed at an early age and they attend the required therapy sessions and if they well looked after, they can go on to become independent in future. We do have people living with Down syndrome and coping well.”
Giuricich completed her matric with Brescia House School back in 2017. With a passion for modelling, she enrolled with The Model Academy where she successfully completed a six-month modelling course. The course covered two catwalks, a three-day photographic modelling, beauty queen and pageant modelling course.
The young Morningside resident is inspired by Australian Madeline Stuart who also lives with Down syndrome and recently visited Milan after receiving an invite from M Missoni – an Italian fashion boutique known for producing colourful knitwear designs. She modelled for the fashion store alongside other M Missoni models promoting their show at the 2019 Milan Fashion Week.
Amongst her achievement,s Giuricich also attended a garment design course with South Africa designer Isabelle Lotter at the SIES!Isabelle Studio which was sponsored by Empowered Versatile Enablement (EVE). “My highlight was doing my debut show at SAFW (SA Fashion Week) 2018. I got to model garments that I designed with Isabelle Lotter from SIES!Isabelle,” she said.
Currently, Giuricich is preparing for the Cinecitta World Pageant in Rome. “Always believe in yourself. You have what it takes. Never stop smiling and shining.”
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