Allow us to rave about someone who truly inspires us and we are willing to bet will inspire you. Her name is Sofía Jirau. She is a Puerto Rican model with Down syndrome who recently fulfilled one of her dreams by walking in a New York Fashion Week show. That in itself is pretty impressive, but what's really impressive about Sofía is her attitude. If someone could bottle it and sell it, we'd order it by the case and spray ourselves with it every time we want to kick butt.
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The woman is absolutely unstoppable. She's only 22 years old and we can't wait to see what else she does in life because she's the kind of person that sets goals and then absolutely CRUSHES them. Like crushes them to smithereens. Because she has Down syndrome, many might say she is an inspiration to anyone with Down syndrome, but the truth is that she's an inspiration to everyone.
Ever since she was a child, she has seen herself as capable of accomplishing her dreams and because of her hard work, dedication, and refusal to set limits on herself, her dreams become realities. She is the kind of person who gets you pumped to go after your own dreams and stop making excuses. Just keep reading and you'll see what we're talking about.
Sofía was born with Down syndrome also known as trisomy 21.
Sofía was born with Down syndrome, which happens when a person is born with an extra chromosome. Usually a baby is born with 46 chromosomes, babies with Down syndrome are born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "This extra copy changes how the baby’s body and brain develop, which can cause both mental and physical challenges for the baby."
Sofía's motto is "no hay limites."
Sadly, we still live in a world where inclusivity is not the norm, but Sofía doesn't see those limits. Instead she is committed to showing the world and other people with Down syndrome that when it comes to achieving her dreams as a woman with Down syndrome, there are no limits.
Ask her if she has any limits and she has the perfect response.
She says, "On the inside and on the outside, I have no limits." It's hard not to believe her seeing all that she has achieved at such a young age.
Sofía has wanted to be a model and businesswoman since she was a child.
“When I was little, I looked myself in the mirror and said, ‘I’m going to be a model and a businesswoman,’” she told People. Well, guess what? Check and check on both fronts because she is both a model and a businesswoman.
In 2019, her modeling career took off.
Here she is walking the runway for Puerto Rican designer Kelvin Giovannie in May of 2019. When she posted this picture to her Instagram account she thanked the designer and San Juan Moda for helping her demonstrate that there are "no limits."
Here she is strutting her stuff for New York Fashion Week this year.
She looks stunning in the dress designed by Marisa Santiago. The story is that Sofía went to a casting with the designer and once the designer saw her in this particular dress, it was a done deal.
The day after her NYFW show, she shared a wonderful message.
She wrote, "Yesterday I fulfilled a dream. I was born for this and I want to show the world that I have everything a model needs to shine."
Her family is behind her 100%.
After her New York Fashion Week debut, Sofía thanked her family for making the trip with her. No doubt they were as thrilled to be there as Sofía was thrilled to have them be there.
She is represented by an agency that truly values and appreciates her.
Sofía is represented by INprende an agency that is dedicated to inclusivity. After her NYFW appearance, they gifted her with this heartfelt video that features her grandparents.
What fuels her work ethic?
She says she loves to work hard to help others, reach her goals, and make money. Who can't relate to that?
Oh, and if you think modeling isn't hard work, think again!
It's not like Sofía decided she wanted to be a model and POOF her dream came true. No, she prepared herself by taking fitness, modeling, and diction classes.
And like all superstars, she has a team.
No one achieves success without help, it's just not possible. In Sofía's case, she has a team of volunteers that have been working with her going on two years.
Guess where she likes to shop?
When asked if she likes to shop, she very enthusiastically responds that she does indeed like to get her shop on at Plaza Las Americas in Puerto Rico. She makes the rounds at Zara, Old Navy, Forever 21, and Gap.
She has a fitness secret.
Well, she works out and goes to the gym regularly to be and stay fit. But she says the secret to fitness is walking and that one must walk and walk and walk.
Remember we told you she's a businesswoman?
Sofía has a line of products that you can find at Alavett.com. Items she has for sale include T-shirts, bags, hats, home decor, and phone accessories.
There's a cool story behind the name of her business.
Sofía loves to exclaim "I love it!" Whenever she's excited or really into something, she says, "I love it!" Alavett, the name of her company, is the phonetic spelling of how Sofía says, "I love it!"
What doesn't she like?
She doesn't like lies. She believes that the truth is where it's at and the truth is what we should all be telling. Well, if honesty is what is called for, then we have to say that we find Sofía very inspiring.
Who inspires her?
No doubt, Sofía is an inspiration to many, but who inspires her? “I want to meet Jennifer Lopez. I like how she dresses and how she is. I love all of her clothes,” Sofía said in an interview. “I love her songs, her CDs, her photos. Everything.”
She also wants to act.
On her website, she reveals that she also wants to be a professional actor. Hmmm, maybe one day we'll see her in a movie with Jennifer Lopez. How cool would that be?
What's next for Sofía?
She wants to model in Europe. “We’re trying to connect her with designers over there," Armando Lorenzo, one of the volunteers who work with her, told People. "If that’s her goal, it’s our challenge. We’re working hard to take her there if that’s what she wants.”
And she's not stopping after Europe. “I’m going to Europe later,” says Sofía. “And to the rest of the world.” We have no doubt that she will bring her talents to the rest of the world because she's already proven that she meets her goals.
