This is the FCB Podcast Network. This is Beaccy Fast. Hello everyone, and welcome back in to another episode of Backstage Past with Victoria. It's your host Victoria here on iHeartRadio and FCB Radio Network. We have such an exciting guest here with us today, miss Aria Tawari and her mother Monica. We're gonna fill you in on her story here in just a little bit. But how are you ladies doing today? Oh hi Victoria, we are doing amazing. Thank you so much for having us. Nia, Thank you for so much for you. Yes, absolutely well, thank you, miss Aria. So to give you guys a little bit of insight, Aria just blew everyone away at our Magnifique Spring showcase. There were about one hundred models there, give or take, and she won many different things, and of course there were so many beautiful girls there. But one thing that sets Aria apart is that she was the only model with down syndrome. So she's you know, blazing trails, really carving out her way and we're so excited to have her with us here today. So miss Aria, we're just gonna start simple. How did you get your start in modeling? Well, Man man Flanc was looking for for the Yak Show, then Beast so my Mom, then her my O Glass and got the Ain got a Field that is how I got my first and signing. Wow, that that's really exciting. And you know New York Fashion Week, so you know, just to kind of recap, miss Aria walked in New York Fashion Week for Nicki Harper which is Harper and Enigma. Now you can check out Nicki's interview that's going to be dropping soon. She was our top winner at our spring showcase a fabulous designer and so you know, Monica sent in miss Aria's stuff and Nicki the rest, as they say, is history. So that is so exciting that you walked in New York. Now let me ask you Aria, You've you know, modeled in our spring show. You've modeled in New York. Have you always wanted to be a model? No, I am wanting to be a but alka. I'm wando in the Fun Thanks show. I want thinking then I'm linked in Danny. I'm had that of fun and now I ranked do you become a mondo and tsha? That's so exciting? Yeah? Why not? Right? You can do both? So you want to be a teacher? I love Oh that's really cool. Who knows you might be, okay, a teacher and a model, see you can do both. Or who knows you might even teach people modeling, So that's really exciting. Now, miss Aria, you've you know, you've rocked the runway in New York, Tennessee. I'm sure many more runways to come. You can also look out for miss Aria on the runway at our Winter Showcase, which is going to be near Biloxi coming up this year. But let me ask you, what is your favorite runway experience so far? I the me Winnagraft doing those shows. I enjoy wearing usignant close and doing things up. I'm getting my makeup iron handjog eh, miss me Fia coming and happy. That's awesome. I love that. Well. I can tell you you don't need much makeup because you're naturally so beautiful. But I mean, who doesn't like dressing up in designer clothes and putting on makeup? So amen to that, sister for sure. Now, you were honored with several prizes at the Magnafique Spring Showcase, as well as the honor of being our twenty twenty five Trailblazer, which is why you're doing this interview for our listeners right now. How did all of that make you feel? I am good. It makes me fare very proud, unhappy. Ohso I feel very lucky to be I don't sense I have not made moneling that law. That's awesome. Yes, I mean you you've only been in the game for a little bit and you're you're doing so much. So we're so so happy for you and so proud of your accomplishment so far. No ear Aria, there are so many models in this industry, but what do you feel like sets you apart from the crowd out? I love you talenting. I focused on how walking and love me. I do not rest my hand at all. Sat things are doing good for me, but I don't let that stap me. As Keith working hand to achieve no goals will meet Asha rue day and I will hand to Manda. I inspire others. That's wonderful, you know. It's I think that that's what you said, is is so important that you don't waste your time because there's so many talented people, but they just sit on their talents and they don't have the courage or maybe the passion to to go after and pursue their goals. So I admire your work ethic uh, and and that of your lovely mom as well. I admire that so much. So are you do you plan on using your platform to encourage others to pursue their dreams? And if so, how. Yes, I have very hard so that I can do anything. I will tell them that if I can do it, you always can do it. That's great, that's great. I love that. And what is one big goal that you would like to accomplish, whether it's in modeling or just in general. I run to comish angry run way walk, I'm good, but bost I went to twelvel and and do you maney? Five shows I like to in wondo on TV? Can day? I want and listen to know that I was really high focused on my dreams. I'm vacant too then that I would that's human kind of shit have I don't give that mind? And yeah, that's fine, and ah. That's awesome. That's a lot of goals too. I love that you've thought about that and that you're you know, so passionate. I mean, you want to travel the world with what you're doing and be on TV someday. Uh, well, I definitely think you made such a splash at our show and made such an impression on so many people. And also in a time, you know, in the world there's just so much negativity and there's so many things going on, and we appreciate you being a light and being an inspiration. So so that is just wonderful. Aria. Now I'm gonna turn this over to Monica for a moment, because Monica is so inspiration, is so uh involved, you know, of course an Aria and and really putting her out there and helping her achieve her dreams. I for one know how important you know, moms are having somebody great in your corner to help you out. So Monica, Aria has been making waves in fashion and hasn't even been doing it that long. Fashion is an area where people with Down syndrome don't always have equal representation. Did you always know that she would model? You know what, Victoria, I actually did not think that she would become a model, But you know, I always knew that she would thrive on stage, sharing her talents in front of an audience. She's actually incredibly motivated by applause, sharing and the appreciation of others. She's been on stage like she's been dancing since she was five and loved gen masstakes in chorus. This year, she was part of her school's play production too, and she absolutely loved the experience. So the days that she's on stage performing are her truly the happiest days. So, you know, in February, when the opportunity came up to walk the runway at the New York Fashion Week this year, it felt like something she would genuinely enjoy and wish she did. She was like so confident and natural on the runway. That is Actually that was the time when I actually realized that modeling might be her thing. So yeah, you. Know, I love that. I love that, and that's awesome. I definitely can tell that she loves the applause, and she did get plenty of it at our show. Now on a little bit more somber note, what do you think are the biggest misconceptions about people who have Down syndrome? Oh, thank you for that question. That's actually a great question. I think one very common misconception is that individuals with Down syndrome are always happy. Right on the contrary, it's also often believed that their lives and the lives of their families are inherently sad. However, I feel neither of these extremes is true. People with Down syndrome experience the full range of emotions. While they can be joyful, they can also feel sadness, frustration, you know, anger, annoyance, just like anyone else, and they could be annoying themselves. Also, another big misconception I feel is, you know, they are often viewed as the recipients of help, support and friendship, rather than being seen as an active contributors. People often feel that they would be a lifelong burden to their siblings or families. However, you know, in reality, individuals with Down syndrome often are capable of deep love, support and wisdom. They have much to contribute to their families, communities and to the world. You know, if I can add a little bit more in our experience, and you know, we have often found that people with Down syndrome are often believed that they cannot be they cannot learn or educated meaningfully. You know. However, they do survive, thrive academically and socially, and very capable of learning and deserve to be you know, held to high expectations. Sure, yeah, and just one one last thing, you know, it is such another such a damaging assumption, is that individuals with Down syndrome are perpetually childlike, you know. As a result, they're often treated like children, regardless of their actual age, you know, which leads to lack of respect, you know, to their opinions, and their decisions are often not that valued. Their voices are. Yeah, the voices are often ignored, you know, simply because they're not viewed as capable adults. And however, they deserve to be treated with dignity and to have their perspectives, you know, choices and aspirations taken seriously. So yeah, what a wonderful answer. I'm so excited to you know, for everybody to hear this, and that's a great perspective, you know. I think the more people we have like Aria entering fields again where individuals with Down syndrome are not proportionately represented, I mean, that's that's a big solution to the problem of maybe the misconception. So we're we're so happy that that you're Aria is putting herself out there and that you're there supporting her along the way. Kind of in the same vein of the last question, I asked what do you feel is the biggest challenge individuals with Down syndrome face today? Yeah, well, I think one of the biggest challenges faced by individuals with Down syndrome is the lack of access to equal opportunities throughout their lives. You know, too often they are denied the chance to study in general education classrooms alongside their peers, or to participate in sports and extracurricular activities. And this is due to the assumption that they are not capable of learning or I should only be got life skills. They're often you know, plumped into one classroom away from the and on disabled peers, which automatically puts them into a huge disadvantage. And you know, every individual deserves the same opportunities to learn, grow and contribute, but for people with Down syndrome, gaining access to those opportunities is still such an uphill battle. You know, it is critical that we challenge these assumptions and advocate for interuse of environments where all individuals are given the chance to thrive. And therefore, Victoria, we are so like fortunate and glad and happy that we got connected with you where you provided that chance to aria. Wonderful Well, That's what I love to hear. And really, that is what Magnifique is all about. Opportunity, representation, inclusivity in a world where, like you said, that's just not always the norm. So I really that love to hear that to me makes everything everything worth it for putting on events. So I and I absolutely love what you had to say. It's it's all about representation and kind of spreading awareness and creating more opportunity. Now what do you consider because Aria is just you all should see her walking the runway and posing. She is truly exceptional. But what do you consider her best or most unique quality? Oh? Absolutely, you got that's so right. Yeah, I do feel that her one of the best qualities is her that extremely confident person that she is. She does not get flustered or nervous easily. I think that also comes from her being accepting herself as who she is. I think she is very proud of her you know condition, she has a very high self esteem and self respect. I think that gives her a lot of confidence. I mean additionally, she's so hard working, very responsible and never gives up. That's wonderful. Now, what has been your favorite memory on your journey with Aria so far. Right. So yeah, when I think about it, you know, one of my dearest and fondest memories I think is from a few years ago when I was carrying my son. I was pregnant with my son and Aria was just eighty years old. She would sit beside me, she would gently touch my belly, and she would sing songs and read stories to her, you know, unborn little brother. She Yeah, she really took care of me, you know, in her own sweet way. I remember one morning, you know, as I walked into the kitchen after waking up, I found a table set up with two plates of toes. One was for her and one was for me. So I was so moved at that moment. But the loving care, you know, she showed at at such a young age, and it was just not for me, but for her little brother who hadn't even arrived, you know yet. So that definitely is such a close memory to my heart. And the other is from a very recent experience of Runway, you know, when she walked Aroundway for the first time and watching her being applauded and appreciated by the audience just shook me, you know in a great way. And brought tears to my eyes and I was so filled with pride and joy. Oh that's wonderful. Well, I absolutely love that. And hearing about your journey and your experience. Well, we are so grateful that we were able to have you on board and work with you, and to feature miss Aria at the upcoming Winter Showcase as well and hopefully many many more shows to come. You all, thank you so much for spending time with us and just talking in general. You know, I think we covered a wide range of topics to our listeners. We are going to be posting some leaks. If you want to follow Aria's journey online, keep up with her on social media and hear a little bit more about their story, you can definitely do so there. Well, Aria and Monica, thank you so much again for talking with me. Thank you Victoria. Before I just want to also say that Aria at the New York Fashion Week also walk for Stacey Williams in addition to Nikki Harper uh in February. So I just wanted to, you know, also add back you know, I mean, thank you, thank you so much. Yes, of course of course absolutely, miss Aria, thank you so much for being you and uh for just uh being such a light and showing so much confidence. We're so happy to have you on and yes we'll definitely we'll post some links for those designers also so you can check out their brands that that she walked for in New York, uh in Tennessee and beyond. Well, we know great things are on the horizon for you, and thank you all again so much. Thank you, Victoria, thank you so much for having. Us absolutely and thank you all as always for listening to Backstage Pass. It's Victoria here. We'll catch you next time. This has been a presentation of the FCB podcast Network, where Real Talk Lives. Visit us online at fcbpodcasts dot com.
