Aviella Simpkins plans to live up to her nickname—Aviella Sparkle—when she sashays down the runway in November at a national fundraiser for Down syndrome research.
The 17-year-old Wakefield High School senior will rock a brightly colored, custom-designed dress at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show on Nov. 7 in Denver.
The foundation, known as GLOBAL, is dedicated to improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through research, medical care, education and advocacy. “I want people to believe in themselves and follow their dreams,” says Simpkins, who has Down syndrome herself.
Now in its 19th year, the fashion show is the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world, having raised more than $33 million. The event, which also includes dinner and a silent auction, draws more than 1,400 guests and features models with Down syndrome accompanied by celebrities.
This year’s star-studded lineup includes Oscar-winner Geena Davis, Olympic medalist Elana Meyers Taylor, NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis and actor John C. McGinley.
Simpkins is excited to run elbows with A-listers, but says she’s most excited about taking her place in the spotlight. “I love performance because it’s fun and makes me feel confident,” she says. “I love making people smile.”
From the Audience to the Runway
Simpkins and her mother, Katherine, attended last year’s Be Beautiful show to help set up auction items for display. Her mom had long wanted to attend the gala, but she and her husband are active-duty military members, so they were often deployed or unavailable.
“[Aviella] was just cheering for all the models,” she recalls. “She was just clapping, standing up the whole time.”
During the after-party, “we had to pull her off the dance floor. She was dancing right there on the stage and kept telling Mom to go away.”
This year, Simpkins will trade her seat in the audience for a spot as one of 20 models walking the runway. She got the gig after auditioning last spring. Her chosen look is a blue and yellow gown from designer House of Falenciago.
She submitted three songs for her runway walk: The Greatest, by Sia; Diva, by Beyonce, and Dai Dai, by Shakira and Burna Boy, which is her top choice.
Passion for Performing
A varsity cheerleader at Wakefield, Simpkins has been dancing since she started ballet lessons at age 5. This year she added modeling to her repertoire through the Temple of Power modeling agency in Maryland.
“She loves performing,” Katherine says. “It’s a group of Black girls, ages 4 to 17 years old. It helps them build their confidence and just really build friendship.”
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The Arlington teen’s first sashay down a runway happened in February at New York Fashion Week, where she strutted her stuff for Seed & Berri clothing for girls and women, and Savvi Kids Magazine.
“[The agency] put her and a few of the girls on their comp card, and the actual designer chose Aviella,” Katherine says. (A comp card, short for composition card, is a business card-size mini portfolio that models and actors use.) “I’m just so happy that there’s designers out there who are open to inclusivity and having [people with] special needs in their show.”
Beyond the Spotlight
Born in Arizona, Simpkins has moved frequently with her military family, spending time in Florida, Germany and Korea. She’s called Arlington home for the past five years, but she loves to travel. Her favorite way to explore is by cruise ship. “I get to see new places and meet new people,” she says. “It helped me make friends and try new things.”
As a senior, she’s preparing for life after high school, practicing job-interviewing skills through a program for young adults with Down syndrome offered by the Kessler Foundation. Kessler is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing rehabilitation research and employment opportunities for people with physical and cognitive disabilities.
Ultimately, Simpkins wants to work in a beauty store or salon doing hair, makeup and nails.
She’s also collaborating with her family to produce a Sparkle Series of children’s books about living with special needs. The first title in the four-part series—She Dances Loud—has a target release date of mid-December.
The objective, she says, is to raise awareness and educate readers about people with disabilities.
People with Down syndrome are often underestimated, Katherine says, and that’s a mistake. One look at her daughter’s Instagram page can change minds.
“I just thank God for social media,” Katherine says. “We’re able to really show what their talents are—what they’re capable of.”
