Frank Rondel
BUCHAREST, Romania — Dozens of models with Down syndrome walked the runway at a fashion event in Romania’s capital, celebrating style, courage, and “atypical beauty” in honor of World Down Syndrome Day, reports customreceipt.com via AP. The SEEN Anonymous Seamstresses Gala featured designers from across Romania who crafted garments “with great kindness, care, and creativity” for young people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities.
Georgeta Bucur, president of Down Plus Association Bucharest, explained that 50 seamstresses each designed a costume for a child they had never met. “The costumes were created without anyone trying them on,” she said. “The most important thing is that people gathered together again. This event is really special… it’s the most beautiful thing that could happen.”
For 19-year-old Antonia Voicu, who wore a green netted dress and a crown of red roses, walking the stage was a dream realized. “I feel like I’m always fashionable, and I like to strike a pose, so I like to do like this,” she said before stepping onto the runway. “I’m not nervous at all.”
Diana Negres, Antonia’s caretaker, said the event was “a big step” for the young model, who had always dreamed of “being a star” on stage. “This event gives her exactly this,” she noted. “It’s her first time, we did no preparation at all, so everything is spontaneous.”
Cristina Bucur, a seamstress and one of the organizers, shared that her inspiration for the fashion show came from her own child with a disability. “I wanted the other children to experience what it’s like to wear a costume during a fashion show and be cheered on stage,” she said. “They enjoy it enormously because they see someone looks at them, that someone does something for them.”
Among Romania’s population, approximately 12,000 people have Down syndrome, and over six million live worldwide, according to the Romania Down Syndrome Federation. In 2022, the country reported one child with Down syndrome per 847 births.
Nine-year-old Marusika Burlaca participated wearing a pink dress adorned with pearls and a styled hairdo. “On stage, we children go on a parade, and today I’m dressed in a nice dress and try to do some modeling,” she said. Larisa Bucur, an event organizer, added, “They may get nervous at times because of the emotions, but they truly enjoy being the center of attention. This is a great opportunity for them.”
World Down Syndrome Day promotes the rights and visibility of people with Down syndrome and raises awareness about their equal freedoms and opportunities. The United Nations General Assembly designated March 21 as the official observance day in 2011. This year, the theme focuses on combating loneliness, which disproportionately affects people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities.
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