Woman With Down Syndrome Inspires Change By Becoming Champion Gymnast And Model

Nov 07, 2022

We all are born with our own unique gifts that set us apart from the rest of the world. The story of Chelsea Werner is about a woman discovering her amazing talents and the rest of the world taking notice.

At 27 years of age, Werner is changing the world by simply being herself. Growing up, Werner had to learn the ins and outs of being unique as she has Down syndrome, a chromosomal defect that can delay intellectual and physiological development.

When she was 4, her parents enrolled her in gymnastics as a way to help her develop her muscle strength. As she learned the ropes, it was clear that Werner wasn't the average gymnast — she was extraordinary. Werner went on to compete in and win four Special Olympics championships. As an athlete, Werner is undeniably remarkable, but there's something else about the athlete taking the world by storm — this incredible gymnast is now a model and a spokesperson for others with Down syndrome. 

The organization We Speak recruited Werner to be a model. This international fashion agency focuses on encouraging all people to love themselves and never be ashamed of their bodies. Werner is already changing the modeling industry from the inside out and hopes to be an encouraging voice for others that have Down syndrome.

As Werner pointed out to A Plus, the fashion and modeling industries rarely work with people with Down syndrome. Werner hopes to change that. She said to the publication, "The more we are represented, the more people will see how capable we are." 

While some may counter this point by asking why there needs to be an increase in representation, Werner believes that the rest of the world finds the accomplishments of other individuals with Down syndrome to be inspiring.

This is certainly the case with Werner and her accomplishments. It is no small feat to win a Special Olympics championship, let alone win four times. She also reigned as the Defending World Champion not once but twice. What Werner has learned about resilience, confidence, and success is nothing short of inspirational. 

Werner attributes her confidence and discipline to gymnastics. Her mother, Lisa, told Your Teen Mag her daughter's success had less to do with talent and more to do with the fact that "she stuck with it and trained hard."

Just as she excelled in gymnastics, becoming a model was no accident for Werner. She always sent in applications to agencies but was constantly turned down, as most people in the fashion industry don't see a place for modeling. However, Werner kept pushing. Encouraged by her parents, she was never deterred by her rejections. Her strength paid off as Werner was discovered through social media by a We Speak scout in 2017. 

Briauna Mariah, the founder, and CEO of We Speak, was so moved by Werner's story that she knew for a fact she was exactly what was needed to shake the fashion world up as she told A Plus. She saw the potential in Werner and knew she had to get her on board. As Werner continues to break barriers in the fashion industry, she is justifiably becoming the recipient of admiration and global recognition.

Werner hopes to keep inspiring others, especially anyone that has Down syndrome. Believing that "everyone is beautiful in their own way," Werner wants to keep showing others that they should never give up on their dreams. Besides We Speak, Werner is also now represented by Naturally Fit Agency, Milk Model Management and Heffner Management.

Has Chelsea Werner's story inspired you to go after your dreams, no matter how unattainable they may seem? What do you think of how far she’s come? Let us know, and pass this along to family and friends.