Model with Down Syndrome Hired for JunoActive's #ThisIsActive Body Positive Campaign

MINNEAPOLIS - April 17, 2018 - PRLog -- Maggie Erickson, a college graduate and model who happens to live with Down syndrome, recently shot her first modeling campaign with plus-size activewear retailer JunoActive in Minneapolis. Maggie's modeling debut will go live on www.junonia.com on April 23, and she will be featured as the face of their homepage and on product shots, email blasts, and social media.

The shoot was for JunoActive's body positive #ThisIsActive campaign which aims to highlight the active lives of diverse, plus-size women often left out of the mainstream media's portrayal of what it looks like to be active. Maggie was chosen to model for JunoActive to bring awareness to the underrepresented active lives of folks living with Down syndrome and other disabilities.

"Every woman deserves to be active—and that includes women with Down syndrome," President of JunoActive Anne Kelly said. "There are metabolic challenges with Down syndrome that make staying active even more important than for most women. One of the biggest barriers many women face, especially in the Down syndrome community, is finding clothes in their size that fit and are designed for exercise."

Recognizing the sizing and fit issues many women face when it comes to activewear, especially women like Maggie with Down syndrome, Kelly had her team design a range of pants in petite, average, and tall lengths available in sizes XL to 6X. Her inspiration behind the matrix size range was to be more accommodating to diverse body shapes and ensure that everyone has access to activewear that fits.

Having access to the right activewear helps Maggie take dance classes, bike on trails around Minneapolis, and walk her dog Harry. "I like the treadmill and lifting weights, and sometimes I work with a trainer," Maggie said. "I do many Special Olympics sports like track and field, swimming, bowling, and golfing, so I am usually active in a sport most times of the year."

When asked about why it's important to see brands with diverse models, Maggie said it's all about representation. "I feel great about all the media that I see with people with Down syndrome on Facebook, Instagram and in the newspaper," Maggie said. "I want to do the same things as other people do, like modeling. Also, I can be a role model to others [living with disabilities]."

"She's a role model for me personally because of her confidence and how she says "Yes" to every opportunity that comes her way—including modeling for us, which was a complete blast for our whole team," said Anne Kelly. "I hope this inspires other businesses who might never have considered hiring a model with Down syndrome to reach out to the community, because working with Maggie was the highlight of our year."

About Maggie Erickson

Maggie has been modeling since she was 17, and has modeled for Arc's Value Village and JunoActive, and has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Down Syndrome Association of MN. She is a committee member of the Self Advocacy group at Arc Minnesota, and works a fun seasonal job as a ticket scanner for the MN Twins and for the MN Vikings and US Bank Stadium. She is a 2017 graduate of the Bethel BUILD program and a 2009 graduate of Highland Park High School.

About JunoActive

JunoActive is a plus-size activewear, swimwear, and underwear company headquartered in Mendota Heights, MN. Founded in 1995 by Anne Kelly, the brand designs clothing tailored exclusively for plus-size women who wear sizes XL to 6X. Their #ThisIsActive campaign seeks to share the stories and faces of women making waves in the plus-size active community.

For more information, please contact Katharine Bolin at 507-319-7704 or kb@sweetreachmedia.com for interview requests for Maggie Erickson or Anne Kelly.

Dropbox: BTS video and photos of Maggie at the shoot: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/chs6rnkvwyjfggk/AAAe_t5OEvfHh1...