Apparently...nothing is impossible

Apparently...nothing is impossible

Is it possible to become an internationally famous model while having a disability? Ellie Goldstein proves that it is possible! At just 20 years old, the British model became internationally recognised as the first professional model with Down's syndrome.

Where has she already managed to shine? Among others, in campaigns for the most popular fashion and beauty brands, including Gucci Beauty, Vogue Italia, Laury Mercier and Victoria's Secret Pink. However, it is her latest starring role that seems to have been made for her.

Ellie Goldstein has teamed up with Adidas as part of the brand's ongoing initiative since 2004 under the slogan Impossible is Nothing, which, in editorial translation, means nothing is impossible - and indeed, it appears not to be.

The main slogan of the Adidas campaign for the 2022 edition was I'm possible, which we take the liberty of translating as I can do it. In addition to Ellie Goldstein, a model and dancer with Down syndrome, it featured: South Korean model HoYeon, who gained global fame as an actress through the series Squid Game; transgender volleyball player Tiffany Abreu; basketball player, activist and poet Asma Elbadawi, who convinced the International Basketball Association to lift the ban on the wearing of the hijab in professional sport; disabled runner Fatima Ibrahimi; Olympian and skateboarder Momiji Nishiya, the youngest person to win an Olympic gold medal for Japan at just 13 years old; and yoga teacher and body positivity advocate Jessamyn Stanley. According to Adidas:

"It's impossible... to gain global recognition overnight, to create your unique style, to be a cover model, an athlete who doesn't give up, or to compete as a transgender woman... Impossible? Well, it is possible."

The ambassadors show that nothing is impossible by sharing their stories in the hope that this will inspire all people involved in sport - all without exception, without division, without exclusion. It's empowering girls and women, people with disabilities and LGBTQ,of all body shapes and skin colours around the world.

See... real people.

Although Ellie has taken the modelling world by storm, she is passionate about dance in particular, so it is a great fit for her to work with a brand that celebrates dance as a sport. Seeing herself as the face of a huge brand is still new to her. However, she hopes that with so many incredibly talented and diverse names in the Adidas line-up, her presence will also help others to see themselves in the campaign message - especially if they have not felt represented by big brands in the past.

Her prescription for how the fitness and modelling industries can be more inclusive of disabled athletes like herself is simple: to see real people in the world doing what they do and living their best lives, just like she does.

Ellie's joyful spirit makes her a perfect fit for the brand, which strives to improve its products by adapting them so that every athlete can feel more confident and believe they will achieve their goals. Ellie herself says she is living her best life and sums up her experience so far as a star: overwhelmed, proud, excited and happy. She calls the Adidas team amazing.

"They make me feel special. I love working with all the people involved in this campaign and I hope to continue it.

They are my family and I love them."

As an ambassador and advocate for people with disabilities, Goldstein uses her immense inner strength to remind her newfound fan base around the world why nothing is impossible. She has already achieved so much, but has even bigger dreams for the coming years. In addition to continuing her modelling career, she wants to be on the cover of Vogue, collaborate with Adidas again, continue to inspire others and travel to America.

We have no doubt that all of this will come true in no time! Her interpretation of the Adidas 'Impossible is Nothing' campaign message? Here it is:

"I am the one who makes everything in life possible, by being myself,

happy, passionate and confident."

Contracts aside, Ellie is an ordinary girl with a lot on her plate. She studies performing arts, loves to relax by reading books, as well as singing and dancing, and counts Ed Sheeran's 'Perfect'  among her favourite songs. And like any other representative of Generation Z, she loves scrolling through TikTok. Her personal heroes are her mum who supports her endlessly, her sister Amy who is sweet, her dad who always makes her laugh and Becca, her dance teacher.

See opportunities where others see the impossible.

The Adidas philosophy has undergone its own evolution. It now focuses on seeing possibilities and rebellious optimism as the foundation of its main goal of changing lives through sport.

As the brand declares, Impossible Is Nothing is its way of looking at the world through possibilities seen where others see the impossible. It shows how optimism and action have shaped the lives of its female protagonists. The aim is to inspire others to see and embrace their possibilities, empowered by a collection of purely human stories that are proof of how much can be achieved through optimism.

In addition to the exciting list of female ambassadors, Adidas has other big plans underway, including the launch of its new Breaking Barriers Academy, which will provide sports clubs, coaches and athletes in Europe with educational resources on gender equality. Alongside this, it is working to increase the visibility of women at major sporting events and launching and expanding community programmes to keep women in sport by continuing partnerships with BWPC (Black Women's Player Collective) and CommonGoal. It is also supporting the next generation of WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association or National Basketball Association, the organisation that governs the professional women's basketball league in the US) stars through the Adidas Legacy programme.

Combining seeing opportunities with optimism, the brand has made commitments to three strategic areas of creating a better future through sport: sustainability, credibility, openness.

• The opportunity to build a more sustainable future through a commitment to completely phase out virgin polyester and use only recycled polyester in all brand products by 2024.
• The opportunity to unite and include all people in sport. This involves extending the contract with UEFA to include the Women's European Championship and the Women's Champions League.
• The opportunity to develop innovations that have never been used before and to take a big step forward, which combines with harnessing the potential of 3D printing technology to produce the soles in the 4DFWD model and subsequent products created in partnership with Allbirds.

The brand is making significant investments in developing sportswear tailored to the diverse needs of women. In 2021, Adidas launched Stay in Play, the first-ever line of period-proof apparel to make menstruating on the move easier and less stressful, as well as the Ultraboost 22 running trainers, specifically designed to address the differences in male and female anatomy. It is also launching a full range of sports bras in 72 sizes, designed with 43 models of different body types, making finding the perfect fit a breeze.As part of its promotion of this project, the brand tweeted a collage of images that sparked a lively debate - as it depicted a number of naked female breasts, including those that deviate from the so-called stereotypical image.

"We believe that women's breasts of all shapes and sizes deserve support and comfort.

That's why our new line of sports bras includes 43 styles, so everyone can find something suitable for themselves."

The Polish instalment of the campaign featured people known to Polish fans and supporters. Among them were Ewa Chodakowska, Dominika Stelmach, Jakub Moder or Zuza Kołodziejczyk. Each of them tells their own story of seeing opportunities where others think it is impossible.

An enlightening example worth noting is the story of Zuzy Kołodziejczyk.

"I often read somewhere that I wasn't fit to be a model. It's just that I really wanted to be suitable. I had always dreamed about it. I wanted to walk in shows, not shows - as a guest on the wall. And it worked out. Contrary to what I was told. I've done dozens of shows, a dozen covers and dozens of campaigns, including some global ones. I stopped seeing limitations. After all, the impossible doesn't exist."

In addition to reaching for her dreams, Zuza saw an opportunity to use her popularity in a non-obvious way: to measure herself against socially relevant topics. We are following and heartily cheering her on!