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Ellie Goldstein is reportedly set to become the first Strictly Come Dancing star with Down syndrome after signing up for the show.
The model, 23, who has appeared on the cover of Vogue, is hoping to ‘break down barriers’ in the entertainment industry.
When Ellie was born, doctors said that she would ‘never walk or talk’, and one nurse devastatingly suggested that her parents might want to ‘leave her’ at the hospital.
But she has defied all expectations since her birth in December 2001, making history as the first model with Down’s syndrome to feature in major international campaigns.
And as Strictly Come Dancing is set to return to screens this Autumn, Ellie has been rumoured to be the latest celebrity who has signed on to the cast.
A source told The Sun: ‘Ellie is thrilled to be taking part in Strictly. She has broken down so many barriers in her career, from modelling for Gucci to being the first model with Down syndrome to appear on the cover of Vogue.’
They added: ‘Ellie can’t wait to get started on the show and show people what she can do.’
Daily Mail has contacted the BBC for comment.
Gucci hired Ellie for its Unconventional Beauty adverts, landing her the cover of Italian Vogue in 2020.
She has graced the covers of numerous magazines, including Elle and Glamour, featured in promotions for Gucci Beauty, Adidas, TK Maxx, Body Shop, Boots, Spotify, Victoria’s Secret and Sports Direct, and even hung in the National Portrait Gallery in London on two occasions.
Ellie has been flown to Sweden, Italy and Germany for photoshoots, and has just strutted her stuff on the catwalk at London Fashion Week.
In 2023, she headed to Paris to receive a prestigious Business of Fashion award.
As well as being ‘treated like a princess’ on photoshoots, Ellie has also been showered with designer gifts — clothes and bags from Gucci and Kurt Geiger — and helped create her own dress for Adidas, pale pink with ‘Role Model’ written on the back.
When Mattel launched its first Barbie with Down’s syndrome, the company hired Ellie to help promote the doll.
‘I’ve done so much modelling and I love it,’ she previously told Daily Mail. ‘And I adored doing the Barbie job — it was great to finally see a doll that looked like me.’
Earlier this year, she starred in the Stand Up To Cancer 2025 celebrity special alongside Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway, TV presenter Sarah Beeny, Loose Women’s Gloria Hunniford and actress Meera Syal.
Ellie began her modelling career in sixth form when a friend of her mum’s had seen the manager of an ‘inclusive’ talent agency, Zebedee — which works with people with disabilities and visible differences — on daytime television.
She suggested Ellie, whose favourite pastimes have always been singing and dancing, would be a perfect signing.
Ellie’s mum Yvonne contacted Zebedee which, after a trial photoshoot, added Ellie to its books in 2016.
Eight months later, Ellie was featured in Superdrug’s Christmas advert. ‘I loved it!,’ Ellie said. ‘I got to dance and wear hair glitter.’
