Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show Celebrates 10 Years

You know the old saying, “Dance Like No One’s Watching?” The models in the now world-famous Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion show for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation dance like everyone’s watching.

The Be Beautiful Be Yourself fashion show seems to define the word “celebrate” every year. In this 10th year iteration, it seems we need to create a word that means “over-the-top, ultra-celebration.”

It isn’t just the celebrities like Jamie Foxx, who comes pretty much every year to support his sister, Global ambassador DeOndra Dixon. And Colin Farrell, new this year to the red carpet ….And Denver Broncos Case Keenum, Von Miller, Brandon McManus, Jeff Heuerman and others, fresh off a resounding win in Arizona.

Co-Chairs Brittany Bowlen and Kacey Bingam did an excellent job this year as a dynamic duo.

There were some off-script surprises–when the live auction seemed to be stalling abit, Jamie Foxx strode on stage to auction off Von Miller’s shiny jacket–the winning bidder? Broncos quarterback Case Keenum, who bid $35,000 for it. Jamie brought up his other celebrity buddies including Colin Farrell, Jeremy Renner, Peter Kudla and John C McGinley to create some impromtu auction packages that raised $ tens of thousands extra for Global.

Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awards went to Colin Farrell and Zack Gottsagen, both actors and advocates for those who are differently-abled.

But the real stars are the models. This year, as in all years past, they strutted, posed, danced and smiled as the 1,400+ attendees in the room cheered and clapped through the roof. If this isn’t a celebration, we don’t know what is.

BBBY raises funds to support the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. Their goal is to significantly improve the lives of people with Down syndrome through research, medical care, education and advocacy. They work to educate governments, educational organizations and society in order to affect legislative and social changes so that every person with Down syndrome has an equitable chance at a satisfying life. Today, the annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show is the largest fundraiser for Down syndrome in the world. With the $2.4 million raised this year, more than $18,000,000 has been raised for Down syndrome research, medical care, advocacy and education. Equally important, it has raised major awareness regarding the shocking disparity of funding for people with Down syndrome, while successfully emphasizing their abilities.

To learn how you can help, visit www.globaldownsyndrome.org.