Mother Fights Back After Clothing Brand Rejects Her Son for Having Down Syndrome
These days, advertising is evolving to reflect the diversity of society. Fashion brands are showcasing models of all ages, sizes, and abilities—celebrating elderly, plus-size, and disabled models while reducing photo retouching.
Yet, there’s still a long way to go.
Meagan Nash learned this firsthand when she submitted photos of her 15-month-old son, Asher, to a children’s clothing brand for a modeling campaign—only to be met with heartbreaking rejection.
A Mother’s Heartbreak
Meagan, from Georgia, was thrilled when she heard that OshKosh B’Gosh was looking for child models. Asher fit their criteria perfectly—he was the right height, weight, and had the ideal hair and eye color.
But after submitting his photos, Meagan received no response. When she followed up, she was given a shocking reason: they did not want to use “a kid with special needs.”
Meagan was devastated. She understood that not every child is chosen to be a model, but rejecting her son simply because he has an extra chromosome was something she couldn’t accept.
Taking a Stand
Determined to fight back, Meagan posted Asher’s photos in a Facebook group called “Kids with Down Syndrome.” The images, taken by photographer Crystal Barbee, showed Asher looking adorable in a blue denim shirt and bow tie.
Her post went viral.
She wrote:
📢 “Let’s make a difference together—share this so the world can see Asher!
This dashing young man is ready to show everyone what it means to change the face of beauty.”
Over 100,000 people liked and shared Asher’s photos, flooding social media with support.
Meagan later clarified that while an agency had rejected Asher, the decision had not come directly from OshKosh B’Gosh. She and her family partnered with Changing the Face of Beauty, an organization pushing for more inclusivity in advertising, to encourage the brand to reconsider.
A Powerful Message
Asher’s story is a reminder that beauty comes in all forms—and every child deserves a chance to be seen. Thanks to his mother’s determination and the power of social media, he became an inspiring symbol of inclusion.