2025 Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show
Where Beauty Meets Breakthroughs: Global Down Syndrome Foundation Powers Breakthroughs in Down Syndrome Research
The GLOBAL Down Syndrome Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through groundbreaking medical research, exceptional care, education and advocacy. Each year, the organization hosts its signature “Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show,” a dazzling event that celebrates the achievements and dignity of people with Down syndrome, while raising critical funds for one of the most underfunded genetic conditions in the nation.
Held on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Sheraton Downtown Denver, this year’s event featured headliner Jeremy Renner, and highlighted remarkable advances in biological mapping and genetic research.
Founded in 2009, the foundation strives to educate policymakers, educators and the broader public to ensure that individuals with Down syndrome have equitable opportunities to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
With steadfast support from families, researchers and advocates around the world, GLOBAL continues to build on its legacy of compassion and discovery – a legacy that began with a vision to change the future of Down syndrome.
A Journey of Expectation
When a routine prenatal blood test revealed a 1 in 9 chance of having a baby with Down syndrome, Michelle Sie Whitten and her husband, Tom, agreed to undergo an amniocentesis.
“I remember a genetic counselor sitting me and Tom in front of a TV and showing us a video about Down syndrome,” she shares in an Q&A with GLOBAL.
The video elevated the couple’s concerns, offering several bleak outcomes for the pregnancy. They were warned that the pregnancy could end in miscarriage; and that, if the baby survived birth, it might not live to its third birthday. She remembers learning that if the baby lived, there were numerous medical conditions they’d have to deal with.
While working as the president and CEO of a media company, she received a phone call confirming that the baby would be born with Down syndrome.
“I locked myself in the bathroom and my husband had to come pick me up,” she recalls.
Meeting the Moment
Knowing very little about Down syndrome, the Whittens began to research what it meant. They were surprised to find very little information on the internet, and what they did find – including the assumption that their baby would have a short lifespan – was outdated.
After meeting families whose children had Down syndrome, and discovering that the lifespan is closer to 60 years, the expectant mother began to prepare. She learned more about early intervention services her child might need, took educational inclusion courses and met children with Down syndrome to understand more about the challenges ahead.
Sophia Kay Whitten was born on June 9, 2003, and Whitten instantly discovered a new passion and purpose in motherhood.
“I thought I had just given birth to the most gorgeous little girl in the world,” she marvels.
“We wanted our daughter to have two things: (1) other children with Down syndrome who she would grow up with and potentially be friends with,” Whitten explains. “And (2) an inclusive educational environment where she is able to model typical behavior and make friends who are typical.”
The Gift of Sophia
Even after researching Down syndrome during pregnancy, Whitten’s understanding of diversity expanded when her daughter was born. Her efforts to ensure that Sophia received the best medical care led to the disappointing realization that there were minimal Down syndrome experts in the area.
Displeased with the medical specialists and therapies available to them, the family realized that “the issues of ignorance, outdated stereotypes, lack of medical best practices and discrimination were being experienced by essentially everyone else they met in the new parent Down syndrome community.”
Whitten’s parents, Anna and John J. Sie, took action. In 2005, they created the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation, a private family foundation and leader in funding programs and organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people who have Down syndrome.
The Sies conducted an investigation of medical care standards for people with Down syndrome, and found that they hadn’t been updated in over 10 years. Statistics around health conditions and even the population of people with Down syndrome were inaccurate, and it was clear that things needed to change.
In 2008 and 2009, the Sies became the founding donors of the Linda Crnric Institute for Down Syndrome – the first academic home for Down syndrome research – and GLOBAL.
Since its inception, the foundation has raised over $32 million for research, medical care, advocacy and education, with Whitten serving as co-founder, president and CEO.
The GLOBAL Stage
Over time, GLOBAL has garnered attention and support from many, with celebrity support as one driver of its fundraising success.
John J. Sie, founder and chairman of Starz Entertainment Group LLC, became friends with renowned composer Quincy Jones, while working in the cable television industry. After his granddaughter was born with Down syndrome, Jones pledged his support, becoming an international spokesperson and ambassador for the foundation.
Along with creating some of the most iconic tunes in history, he devoted his life to advocacy, encouraging others in the business to donate and serve as ambassadors for the cause.
Named for the monumental impact he made to Global, the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award recognizes those who have championed people who are differently-abled, including people with Down syndrome, in humanitarian work and public service.
Each year since 2009, the prestigious honor is bestowed upon a pair of individuals – one person with Down syndrome and one celebrity advocate. Jones received the first award, along with DeOndra Dixon, the late sister of award-winning actor and singer, Jamie Foxx.
Foxx later earned the award for his advocacy in 2012, preceded by Timothy P. Shriver and John C. McGinley; and followed by Kyra Phillips, Beverly Johnson, Eva Longoria, Colin Farrell, Amanda Booth, Catarina Scorsone, John Lynch, Eric Dane, Bobby Farrelly and Woody Harrelson.
Following Dixon, advocates with Down syndrome include Karen Gaffney, Sujeet Desai, Luke Zimmerman, Tim Harris, Brad Hennefer, Jamie Brewer, Frank Stephens, Madeline Stuart, Zack Gottsagen, Megan Bomgaars, Marián Ávila, Bryan Russell Mujica, David Egan, Madison Tevlin and Sofia Sanchez.
In 2015, the Sies were recipients of the award; recognizing their tremendous efforts before the tragic loss of Anna in September 2023.
2025 Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show
Each year, GLOBAL hosts fundraisers throughout the country, but none as successful as the “Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show in Denver.” The star-studded event attracts attendees from around the world, raising enormous amounts of money to fund important Down syndrome research.
This year’s event took place during Down Syndrome Awareness Month – an effort led by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and designated by President Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Known for his heroic role as Hawkeye in Marvel’s Avenger series, and his miraculous recovery after a catastrophic accident in 2023, Jeremy Renner headlined this year’s fashion show. He was joined on the red carpet by Jessica Biel, Max Carver, Shelly Hennig, Beverly Mitchell, Sarah Bock, and former awardees, McGinley and Booth.
“Talk about real superheroes. The power of the people with Down syndrome is clear to me. This community is the most unifying, and it’s the opposite of what’s happening in this world with all the adversity that’s going on. This is a unifying event, and it’s beautiful,” said Renner, as he walked the red carpet.
“Because of all the advanced studies involving people with Down syndrome, we’ve learned that, health wise, there are ailments they get very easily and there are things that they cannot get – kind of like superpowers! There are a lot of doctors who come together because of this community, and I think that’s really important.”
A Star-Studded Event
Several models walked the red carpet, including awardees Iannucci and actress Jane Lynch, and cast members of the 2023 film “Champions,” including James Day Keith and Matthew Von Der Ahe.
Returning cast members of the hit television series, “Glee,” Alexis Floyd, Niko Terho and Anthony Hill were also in attendance. Lauren Potter, an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities, was accompanied by shining presence on the red carpet.
When asked why the “Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show” is so special, Potter answered, “We open doors – not just for ourselves, but for other people.”
Lynch shared that being honored this year was special to her because the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award would be presented by Potter, her former “Glee” cast-mate.
The 2025 Global Down Syndrome Foundation Ambassador, Guion Macsovits, was showcased during a heartwarming video featuring messages from his family. The recent Cherry Creek High School graduate shared his excitement and his love for weightlifting and knock-knock jokes.
Each exquisitely-set table in the banquet hall was set with gifted copies of Renner’s new memoir, “My Next Breath,” as well as a beautifully illustrated children’s book by Rebecca Macsovits titled, “Guion the Lion,” inspired by her son.
After a sumptuous three-course meal and lively auction highlighting big-ticket items and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, the models took to the stage. They strutted to the sounds of pop music and announcements by 9News anchors Kim Christiansen and Phil Lipof.
The evening concluded with a grand finale as “We are the World,” played overhead – a nod to producer, Jones – with a dance party stretching into the night.
The Work Continues
Recent developments led by GLOBAL and its research partners are bringing fresh hope to people with Down syndrome and their families.
In September, a study from the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome revealed updated biological mapping that shows how trisomy 21 – the extra chromosome that causes Down syndrome – shifts across lifespans.
Researchers found that while some biological changes remain consistent from infancy through adulthood (for example, immune hyperactivity and oxygen-metabolism disruptions), many changes are unique to specific life-stages.
In July, the GLOBAL Roundtable in Texas convened leading Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s experts, who discussed how individuals with Down syndrome are uniquely predisposed to Alzheimer’s-type brain changes.
These breakthroughs in Down syndrome research illuminate fundamental aspects of human biology, aging, immunity and neurodegeneration. Because people with Down syndrome face both distinct medical challenges and early-onset Alzheimer’s risk, the findings can extend outward to shape how lifetime health is understood, providing opportunities for scientific developments across disciplines.
The Bigger Picture
“Anybody who has children understands that [Down syndrome] is not a genetic condition that goes away. People need help everyday; all year, every year. And as the federal government tightens its belt, gaps still have to be filled. People have needs and research dollars are going away, and what we espouse to do is fill those gaps,” said McGinley, who has remained vocal about his support for GLOBAL throughout the years.
His son, Max, is helping to advance communication for nonspeaking or minimally-speaking individuals through a protocol called “Spellers.”
“Our community, unfortunately, will spiral towards Alzheimer’s, and so that’s where our research dollars go. It’s a big deal. It’s not going to go away, you can’t put a bandaid on it. Just like children and family, you have to attend to them everyday — and it’s a privilege to do so.”
GLOBAL’s advocacy has led to the re-introduction of the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act, bipartisan legislation that would formally authorize the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) trans-institute “INCLUDE” research program.
Supported by Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, Colorado Representative Diana DeGette and North Carolina Representative Richard Hudson, the program would study co-occurring conditions in people with Down syndrome.
Fun, Fashion & Impact
The “Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show” is a dazzling night of celebration that showcases the heart of GLOBAL’s mission.
Each model, advocate and supporter who graces the runway helps fuel scientific breakthroughs that are changing the future of Down syndrome research and care. Yet, continued investment is essential to sustain the momentum, deepen understanding of lifelong health and ensure that every individual with Down syndrome has the opportunity to thrive.
The advances made by GLOBAL and its partners underscore an inspiring truth that has been embedded in the Whittens, the Sies and countless others.
“On a macro level, we have come across many challenges through our advocacy work for people with Down syndrome,” Whitten shares.
“It has been challenging to educate people who have old and negative stereotypes about our children with Down syndrome. It has been challenging to get the National Institutes of Health to fund research…And it has been challenging to galvanize our community.”
Beyond the fun and festivity of a fashion show, supporting GLOBAL through donations, attendance or advocacy means helping to advance research that benefits not only one community, but humanity as a whole.
Editor’s note: To learn more about the GLOBAL Down Syndrome Foundation, visit https://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/.
