Katie Meade recently made history. She was selected as the face of the new Fearless Hair Rescue Treatment released by Beauty & Pin-Ups.
Katie is the first model with Down syndrome to represent a beauty product.
This most recent accomplishment is just one of many for the 32-year-old Iowa native. Katie is currently employed full time as an office generalist in her local County Treasury Office. She also earned a gold medal in the Special Olympics and currently serves as an ambassador for Best Buddies International.
Best Buddies International is a non-profit organization that works to assist in providing individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental challenges, economic and social empowerment. The organization assists in developing employment, leadership and social skills. It is the world’s largest organization specifically dedicated to ending the isolation that plagues those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Beauty & Pin Ups partners with Best Buddies International. A portion of their proceeds is donated to the organization and they also bring a Buddy to every event they attend. This is perfect for Katie. She is passionate about working for with companies.
“It’s pretty cool because I love being a part of the Beauty & Pin-ups family, and I love being a part of Best Buddies and interacting with people,” Meade said to PeopleStyle about her partnership with the brand.
When it came to hiring Katie to model and represent their new product, Beauty & Pin-Ups CEO Kenny Kahn said it was an easy decision.
“She is just an incredible person” Kahn told Today. “We kind of looked at each other and all said, Katie is the most fearless person we know, so we took the style team to Des Moines and in December did a photo shoot. It was the most fun day I can remember having. She is a very special person and it comes across in her photos.” Kahn went on to say, “she represents not just hope; she represents reality.”
Katie loved the entire modeling experience. She said, “It was fun trying on clothes and getting ready for the photos. I felt so special! It was really cool to feel like a true model.”
Not only is Katie enjoying being the face of the brand, she is also a fan of the product line:
“I’m really excited to be on the packaging of the new treatment,” she shared. “I love all the products — I’ve tried Fearless and I love it because it makes my hair soft.”
It is evident that the best is yet to come for this young lady; but for now, Katie Meade is proof that beauty comes in all packages.