Stunning Portraits Demonstrate the Beauty of those with Down’s Syndrome

From Day One, we tell our children that they are special, unique, and bring their own personality, style, and self into this crazy world. Often, children, teens, and even adults with Down’s Syndrome are seen as merely a chromosomal abnormality, immediately categorized and marginalized and seen as all the same, rather than celebrated as unique, special and the like.

Sigga Ella, a photographer from Iceland, set out to show the beauty and diversity amongst those with Down’s Syndrome in her photographic exhibition entitled, “First and foremost I am.”

The photo series consists of twenty-one portraits of people ranging from nine months to sixty years old. The number of portraits was a conscious decision, representing chromosome 21, the location of the most common gene mutation that causes the condition.

The title of the series came from an interview with Halldora Jonsdottir, who is thirty years old and is also featured in Sigga Ella’s project. Jonsdottir stated, “I have Down syndrome but FIRST AND FOREMOST I AM Halldora.”

With a colorful floral background, the twenty-one portraits show a beautiful diversity of smiling faces and personalities. All of the subjects appear immediately joyful, optimistic, and above all, representative of the beauty and diversity of all mankind.

There is such genuine happiness in these photos, and they remind everyone to seek out what makes us happy each day, and that every person is truly, undoubtedly, special and unique.

Samantha Middleton

My first love is for coffee, and my second for bookstores. I love buying books but not always reading them, identify as a true snow bunny, and find nothing more centering than meditation that seems to always turn into a nap. Writing is a fearful passion of mine but also a source of great joy, especially when that writing involves a delicious recipe or a good pun.